Trump Issues Statement on Executive Order: ‘This Is Not About Religion’

President Trump issued a statement this afternoon in response to outcry over his executive order on extreme vetting.

Trump insists this is “not about religion” and blasts the media for “falsely reporting” that it’s a Muslim ban (the second of two references to the press in the statement).

The statement does not directly address the outcry over people being detained at airports (which led to huge protests yesterday and today).

The president also took shots at Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham for their joint statement condemning his order:

The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong – they are sadly weak on immigration. The two…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017

…Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017

You can read Trump’s full statement below:

JUST IN: Pres. Trump issues statement on immigration order: "This is not about religion—this is about terror and keeping our country safe." pic.twitter.com/qLLrb9yYWz

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 29, 2017

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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