WASHINGTON - A controversial statement from US President-elect Donald Trump clamouring ban on the immigration of Muslims to the United States has disappeared from his website, but his tweet on the issue remains on his Twitter feed.

“Donald J Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” Trump said on his website on December 07, 2015.

“According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population,” he said. The call sparked a furious backlash from opponents and claims of racism and xenophobia.

Shortly after issuing the Muslim ban statement, Trump also tweeted to endorse his call and declared it a policy statement. He said, “Just put out a very important policy statement on the extraordinary influx of hatred & danger coming into our country. We must be vigilant!” The tweet, however, remains on his Twitter feed if one looks for it.“Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine,” Trump said in the statement. “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life,” he said.