Trump mocks Schumer for crying during speech protesting his immigration ban

President Trump is blaming the airport chaos that followed his controversial executive order temporarily banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries on protesters, a computer outage at Delta Air Lines and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s teary-eyed response to the ban.

“Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning,” Trump tweeted early Monday. “Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage, protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer.”

“I noticed Chuck Schumer yesterday with fake tears,” Trump said before a meeting with small-business leaders at the White House on Monday morning. “I’m going to ask him who was his acting coach. Because I know him very well and I don’t see him as a crier. If he is, he’s a different man.”

Schumer broke down in tears on Sunday as he announced that Democrats are considering legislation to overturn Trump’s order, which bars people from seven countries — Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Somalia — from entering the United States for 90 days.

“This executive order was mean-spirited and un-American,” Schumer said at a press conference in New York City, where he was surrounded by families affected by the ban. “It was implemented in a way that created chaos and confusion across the country, and it will only serve to embolden and inspire those around the globe who will do us harm.”

The move sparked a wave of protests at airports around the country on Saturday after more than 100 people, including some with current visas, were detained or turned around.

On Saturday night, a federal judge in Brooklyn issued an emergency stay temporarily blocking part of Trump’s order. The decision, which will affect people who have been detained in airports, came after the American Civil Liberties Union and other activist groups filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of two Iraqis who were held at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

People participate in a protest against Trump's travel ban outside Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Saturday night. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)
People participate in a protest against Trump’s travel ban outside Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on Saturday night. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)

“It is clear from the confusion at our airports across the nation that President Trump’s executive order was not properly vetted,” Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a joint statement issued Sunday afternoon. “We are particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice and Homeland Security.”

Trump disputed the characterization that the order caused “chaos,” and dismissed criticism that it was issued with little or no warning.

“If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the ‘bad’ would rush into our country during that week,” Trump tweeted Monday. “A lot of bad ‘dudes’ out there!”

He also took a swipe at McCain and Graham, accusing the pair of national security hawks of constantly pushing for “World War III.”

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said the administration’s lack of advance notice was by design.

“I don’t think you want a grace period,” Priebus said. “Because then people who want to do bad things to Americans would just move up their travel date two days in order to get into the country before the grace period is over. … And if you ask, a lot of the people at the customs and border patrol would just tell you you’ve got to just rip off the Band-Aid and you have to move forward.”

On Sunday, tens of thousands of people gathered at airports and in cities around the world to demonstrate against the ban, including more than 20,000 in Boston alone.

Protesters hold signs as they block a road during a demonstration against the immigration ban imposed by Trump at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Protesters hold signs as they block a road during a demonstration against the immigration ban imposed by Trump at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

“America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border,” Trump said in a statement issued late Sunday afternoon. “America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave. We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say.”

“The seven countries named in the executive order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror,” Trump continued. “To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion — this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order.”

Late Sunday night, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said it would “remain in compliance with judicial orders” while continued “to enforce President Trump’s executive order humanely and with professionalism.”

“Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems,” Trump tweeted Monday. “MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!”

Trump added: “Where was all the outrage from Democrats and the opposition party (the media) when our jobs were fleeing our country?”

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