Donald Trump has stood by his call for a complete ban on Muslim immigration to the US for a third time, insisting he is not a bigot.

When asked by Barbara Walters on NBC News if he had any regrets about the policy he announced on Monday, the 69-year-old said: "Not at all. We have to do the right thing."

He went on to say he has "tremendous relationships" with many Muslims, who he insisted completely agreed with his plan.

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During the interview and in a series of tweets, the Republican presidential candidate attacked those who have come out against his proposal.

"I'm the worst thing that ever happened to Isis," he declared. "The people in my party fully understand that - they're running against me.

"For the most part, they have no poll numbers. I'm leading by a lot. They get it. They're trying to get publicity for themselves."

He said the shutdown would not have to be lengthy and would last until the US was able to monitor Muslims.

"There are people that have tremendously bad intentions," he said.

"We have to be tough, we have to be smart and we have to be vigilant."

It is the third time Mr Trump has defended his call for a "complete shutdown" on Muslim immigration to the US.

Shape Created with Sketch. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes Show all 14 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Donald Trump's most controversial quotes 1/14 On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty 2/14 On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters 3/14 On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images 4/14 On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty 5/14 On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images 6/14 On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP 7/14 On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." 8/14 On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP 9/14 On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images 10/14 On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters 11/14 On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images 12/14 On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA 13/14 On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images 14/14 On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY 1/14 On Isis: "Some of the candidates, they went in and didn’t know the air conditioner didn’t work and sweated like dogs, and they didn’t know the room was too big because they didn’t have anybody there. How are they going to beat ISIS?" Getty 2/14 On immigration: "I will build a great wall — and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me —and I’ll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." Reuters 3/14 On Free Trade: "Free trade is terrible. Free trade can be wonderful if you have smart people. But we have stupid people." PAUL J. RICHARDS | AFP | Getty Images 4/14 On Mexicans: "When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists." Getty 5/14 On China: "I just sold an apartment for $15 million to somebody from China. Am I supposed to dislike them?... I love China. The biggest bank in the world is from China. You know where their United States headquarters is located? In this building, in Trump Tower." Getty Images 6/14 On work: "If you're interested in 'balancing' work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable." AP 7/14 On success: "What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate." 8/14 On life: "Everything in life is luck." AFP 9/14 On ambition: "You have to think anyway, so why not think big?" Getty Images 10/14 On his opponents: "Bush is totally in favour of Common Core. I don't see how he can possibly get the nomination. He's weak on immigration. He's in favour of Common Core. How the hell can you vote for this guy? You just can't do it." Reuters 11/14 On Obamacare: "You have to be hit by a tractor, literally, a tractor, to use it, because the deductibles are so high. It's virtually useless. And remember the $5 billion web site?... I have so many web sites, I have them all over the place. I hire people, they do a web site. It costs me $3." Getty Images 12/14 On Barack Obama: "Obama is going to be out playing golf. He might be on one of my courses. I would invite him. I have the best courses in the world. I have one right next to the White House." PA 13/14 On himself: "Love him or hate him, Trump is a man who is certain about what he wants and sets out to get it, no holds barred. Women find his power almost as much of a turn-on as his money." Getty Images 14/14 On America: "The American Dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before and we will make America great again." GETTY

Following criticism of his controversial campaign statement, he told a cheering crowd: "I. Don't. Care."

He later claimed parts of London were "so radicalised" the city's police force are "afraid for their own lives", defending his remarks to MSNBC.

London Mayor Boris Johnson described the comments as "complete and utter nonsense", saying: "The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."

An online petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from entering the UK has more than 60,000 signatures. The Government is obliged to respond to any petition with more than 10,000 signatories.

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