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US President Donald Trump called Monday for an “expedited” hearing of his travel ban, currently before the Supreme Court, saying the Justice Department should seek a “much tougher version.” Photo: TNS

Trump in new Twitter tirade urges tougher US ‘travel ban’ after London terror attack

Trump assails Justice Department court strategy on travel ban

Donald Trump
Agencies

US President Donald Trump called Monday for a “much tougher version” of his travel ban and an “expedited” hearing for the measure before the Supreme Court.

In a series of early morning tweets, the president also said the United States was already “extreme vetting” travellers coming into the country for safety reasons.

Trump appeared to blame the Department of Justice, run by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, for moving forward with a “watered down” version of the policy.

“In any event we are EXTREME VETTING people coming into the U.S. in order to help keep our country safe. The courts are slow and political!” the US president wrote.

The president criticised the legal strategy in the wake of the vehicle and knife attack in London that left seven people dead and dozens injured. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Trump administration had vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court since the first of two versions of Trump’s executive order on travel was slapped down by the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in February.

The White House initially attempted to clarify Trump’s use of “travel ban” when the executive order was first announced in January.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer said in January that the policy was not a ban, but rather “extreme vetting.” However, Spicer seems to have adopted the language, calling it a travel ban as recently as May.

Protesters wearing Statue of Liberty costumes hold a banner reading 'No refugee ban, no Muslim ban' as they take part in a demonstration against the US president in Brussels. Photo: AFP

The president used similar language over the weekend, tweeting after the Saturday night attacks in London.

“We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety,” Trump tweeted.

Trump’s criticism of the US Justice Department came a day after he said he would do whatever is necessary to protect the United States from a “vile enemy” that he said has waged war on innocents for too long.

“This bloodshed must end, this bloodshed will end,” he vowed.

Watch: Trump says ‘US will do everything to help UK’

Trump was commenting Sunday evening on the vehicle and knife attack in London at the conclusion of a Sunday night fundraiser for Ford’s Theatre, scene of one of the most famous acts of bloodshed in American history: the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

“America sends our thoughts and prayers and our deepest sympathies to the victims of this evil slaughter and we renew our resolve, stronger than ever before, to protect the United States and its allies from a vile enemy that has waged war on innocent life, and it’s gone on too long,” Trump said.

“As president, I will do what is necessary to prevent this threat from spreading to our shores and work every single day to protect the safety and security of our country, our communities and our people.”

Agence France-Presse, Reuters. Business Insider

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