Donald Trump tempers travel ban amid protests and criticism

US President Donald Trump has moved to cushion the effect of the executive order he signed on Friday banning refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim majority countries from entering the US by tempering with a key element of the order as criticism and protests continue to mount across the US and all over the world.
 
In defense to the order, Trump said the directive was "not about religion" but keeping America safe.

According to a statement by the US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, people from the seven countries who hold the US green cards as lawful permanent US residents will not be stopped from returning to the US.

"I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest," Kelly said in a statement.

Meanwhile Trump has blasted two Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham in a twitter message, calling them "sadly weak on immigration" and accusing them of "looking to start World War III" after they criticised his travel bans.
 
Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, had in a joint statement said;

"Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism," adding that "This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security,"

Trump in a series of tweets on Sunday, said;

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

"The two Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III," he added.