Donald Trump hits back at ‘weak’ Lindsey Graham and John McCain after they issue statement slamming ‘Muslim ban’
The ex-presidential hopefuls branded the president's travel restriction order ‘hasty’ and ‘harmful’ to America's image
DONALD Trump has hit back at a pair of Republican senators who branded his 'Muslim ban' ‘hasty’ and ‘harmful’.
Former presidential hopefuls Lindsey Graham and John McCain issued a joint statement yesterday condemning the travel restrictions placed on people from a seven-country “blacklist”.
The pair said the controversial executive order was “not properly vetted” and had led to chaos at American airports.
And they suggested the move was against the country’s core values and would be counterproductive.
The statement read: “We should not turn our backs on those refugees who have been shown through extensive vetting to pose no demonstrable threat to our nation, and who have suffered unspeakable horrors – most of them women and children.
“Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism.”
They added: “This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country.
“That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.”
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But Trump today took to Twitter to hit back at the pair, accusing them of trying to “start World War III”.
He wrote: “The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong – they are sadly weak on immigration.
“The two Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III.”
The President announced on Friday that all refugees would be banned from entering America for the next 120 days.
Trump also banned nationals from seven mainly Muslim countries – Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen – from entering the US for three months.
But yesterday a federal judge in New York issued an emergency order temporarily stopping immigration authorities from deporting people under the ban.
The order barred US border agents from removing anyone who arrived in the US with a valid visa from the affected countries. It also covered anyone with an approved refugee application.
The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday the court ruling would not affect the overall implementation of the White House order.
Read the full statement from Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain:
“Our government has a responsibility to defend our borders, but we must do so in a way that makes us safer and upholds all that is decent and exceptional about our nation.
“It is clear from the confusion at our airports across the nation that President Trump’s executive order was not properly vetted.
“We are particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defence, Justice, and Homeland Security.
“Such a hasty process risks harmful results. We should not stop green-card holders from returning to the country they call home.
“We should not stop those who have served as interpreters for our military and diplomats from seeking refuge in the country they risked their lives to help.
“And we should not turn our backs on those refugees who have been shown through extensive vetting to pose no demonstrable threat to our nation, and who have suffered unspeakable horrors, most of them women and children.
“Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism.
“At this very moment, American troops are fighting side-by-side with our Iraqi partners to defeat ISIL (ISIS).
“But this executive order bans Iraqi pilots from coming to military bases in Arizona to fight our common enemies.
“Our most important allies in the fight against ISIL are the vast majority of Muslims who reject its apocalyptic ideology of hatred.
“This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country.
“That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.”
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