Trump Says Executive Order Is Not 'Muslim Ban'

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, defended his executive order regarding the temporary visa ban for citizens of Iran and several other countries, stating that it is not aimed at preventing Muslims from entering the U.S. In a statement, the U.S. President said that this order does not pertain to Muslims and that it is a perception that the media has 'falsely' propagated: 'This [order] is not about religion, but about terrorism and protecting our country's security.' Mr. Trump emphasized the necessity of thorough background checks for individuals applying for visas. He also claimed that this order has been effective. In his executive order, Trump stated that the goal is 'to protect the American people.' In further remarks to reporters, he said that this directive 'has worked very well. You see it at airports, you see it everywhere [that this order has been effective].' On Friday evening, the President issued an executive order that temporarily halts visa issuance for citizens of seven countries, including Iran, for at least 90 days, preventing citizens of these countries with visas and refugees from entering the U.S. This executive order has faced criticism from civil unions, several of America's Western allies, and some U.S. politicians. On the other hand, it has supporters; for example, Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House, stated in a statement that 'President Trump has every right to do whatever it takes to see exactly who is entering our country.' Some European political figures have also defended this order, such as Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician who, while defending this order, called for the addition of 'other Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia' to this list.