Donald Trump defends ‘extreme vetting’ as European leaders denounce US travel ban

BERLIN – The leaders of Britain and Germany joined other American allies Sunday in criticizing President Donald Trump’s U.S. entry ban for people from some Muslim-majority countries, even as far-right politicians on the continent celebrated the move.

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A spokesman for Theresa May said the British Prime Minister does “not agree” with Trump’s order and will challenge the U.S. government if it has an adverse effect on British nationals. The official comment came after May refused to condemn the ban during a visit to Turkey to meet with Turkish leaders. She said in Turkey the decision was a matter solely for the U.S.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also regrets the travel ban.

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“She is convinced that even the necessary, resolute fight against terrorism doesn’t justify putting people of a particular origin or particular faith under general suspicion,” Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert said.

Merkel raised the issue during a phone call with Trump on Saturday, citing the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention that calls on signatories to take in people fleeing war, Seibert said.

“The German government will now examine what consequences the U.S. government’s measures have for German citizens with dual citizenship and, if necessary, represent their interests toward our American partners,” he said.

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An initial joint U.S.-German statement following the call made no mention of the topic of refugees or travel bans.

Among the first leaders to voice criticism was French President Francois Hollande, who said Saturday that “when (Trump) rejects the arrival of refugees, while Europe has done its duty, we should respond to him.”

President Trump took to Twitter Sunday morning to defend the travel ban, calling Europe a “horrible mess.”

“Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world – a horrible mess,” he said.

Meanwhile, nationalist and far-right groups in Europe applauded the U.S. travel restrictions.

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• Tears at LAX as Trump’s immigration order divides families
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• Protesters gather at Dallas airport to rally against Trump’s travel ban
• San Francisco demonstrators rally against Trump’s travel ban
• Mayor of Dallas says Trump’s travel ban is distressful, an exaggeration
• Elizabeth Warren calls Trump’s travel ban ‘illegal,’ ‘unconstitutional’

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The Dutch anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders said in a tweet: “Well done @POTUS it’s the only way to stay safe + free. I would do the same. Hope you’ll add more Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia soon.”

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Wilders, whose Party for Freedom is polling strongly before the country’s March 15 election, later tweeted: “No more immigration from any Islamic country is exactly what we need. Also in The Netherlands. For Islam and freedom are incompatible.”

The far-right National Democratic Party in Germany celebrated what it described as “the massive restriction on the entry of pseudo-refugees and Muslims to the USA.”

“For the first time ever one can say from a nationalist perspective: keep going, USA,” the party wrote on its official Facebook page.

Canadian passport holders won’t be affected by a American ban that has barred citizens of seven countries from entering the United States.

An email from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s office late Saturday said that the U.S. has given assurances that Canadians with dual citizenship will not be turned away at the border.

– With a file from Global News reporter Nicole Bogart