World

Donald Trump condemns 'watered down' travel ban

US president Donald Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, speaks during the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, on Sunday. Picture by Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press
US president Donald Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, speaks during the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, on Sunday. Picture by Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press US president Donald Trump, joined by first lady Melania Trump, speaks during the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala at the Ford's Theatre in Washington, on Sunday. Picture by Carolyn Kaster, Associated Press

President Donald Trump has criticised his own Justice Department for asking the Supreme Court to review a "watered down, politically-correct version" of the travel ban he signed in March.

In a series of morning tweets, Mr Trump said the Justice Department "should have stayed" with the first travel ban executive order.

Both orders, aimed at temporarily halting entry to the US from half-a-dozen Muslim-majority countries, have been blocked by the lower courts.

The March directive narrowed the scope of the original order, which was hastily unveiled during Mr Trump's first week in office.

Mr Trump said the Justice Department should ask for an "expedited hearing" on the second ban and "seek much tougher version!".

The president has stepped up his calls for implementing the travel ban following the weekend attacks in London.

In a further tweet, he added: "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!"

It is unclear whether the president has conveyed his requests to the Justice Department, which he oversees, in a forum other than Twitter.

Last week, the Justice Department formally asked the Supreme Court to let the ban be put in place. The court is also being asked to uphold the constitutionality of the Trump travel policy.

The directive that would go before the Supreme Court removes Iraq from the list of banned countries, and an indefinite halt to entry from Syrian refugees was replaced by a temporary pause.