The president warmly greeted the Shinzo Abe to the White House, giving him a hug.
Questions about President Trump’s halted executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries hung over his otherwise sunny meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.
The president faced repeated questions about the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in support of a lower court’s suspension of his immigration executive order. Earlier in the day, Trump denounced the court’s “disgraceful” decision.
Speaking at a news conference with Abe, Trump promised new actions related to security in the coming days and indicated that the Justice Department would continue to go through the process to appeal the courts’ decisions.
“We are going to do whatever is necessary to keep our country is safe,” Trump said. “We will continue to go through the court process, and ultimately I have no doubt that we’ll win that particular case.”
[ Trump targeted Japan during the campaign ]
Trump promised to move “rapidly” to block the entry of “people into our country who are looking to harm our people.” He did not provide more specific information about what form those actions would take.
The Japanese prime minister is one of the first foreign leaders to visit Washington to engage with Trump and the new administration, as Japan aims to protect its position as a longtime U. S. ally.
Trump responded to Abe’s overtures with praise. He complemented Abe’s “strong” handshake in their Oval Office meeting, and at the news conference, Trump reaffirmed the long history between the two countries.
“When I greeted him today at the car, I was saying I shook hands, but I grabbed him and I hugged him because that’s the way we feel,” Trump said. “We have a very, very good bond, very, very good chemistry.
