Former U.S. President Barack Obama breaks out from silence concerning Trump's Muslim ban. He talks about the controversial immigration ban that prohibited people of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
Obama who calls Trump's order "extreme vetting", is supporting the protestors around the country in opposition to President Trump's immigration orders. The protests are happening in America and around the world, including Britain.
Obama has joined the political dispute only ten days after handing over the power to Trump. It is rare for former presidents to criticise their successors, certainly not a week and a half after they are sworn in.
"The President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating individuals because of their faith or religion," Obama's spokesman said in a statement, according to The New York Times. "Citizens exercising their Constitutional rights to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we want to see when American values are at stake."
Obama also highlighted the public's right to speak out if Trump would violate what Obama calls the basic American values. His comments came with a reminder of what he had spoken in the past concerning Trump's tactic of ordering a temporary suspension of admitting people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan or Yemen from entering the U.S. - that priority should be given to Christians in the future.
Meanwhile, Trump administration have strongly rejected the notion that Trump's order is a "Muslim ban". Trump suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days, and the Syrian refugee program as well as suspension of entry to the U.S. from seven countries consisting Muslim majority for 90 days. Despite the heavy suspension, the White House has stressed that a large number of other Muslim-majority countries aren't included.
