Trump offers support, urges US travel ban

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump argued in favor of his controversial travel ban as London authorities responded to reports of terrorist attacks Saturday night.

One tweet read: “We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!”

At the time of his Tweets, London authorities were investigating reports that a vehicle had hit pedestrians on London Bridge. Two other incidents also were reported: stabbings at nearby Borough Market and another incident in the Vauxhall area of the city, although the latter was not suspected to be a terrorist attack.

Trump began tweeting about the incidents an hour or so after initial news reports. First, he retweeted a Drudge Report item about the attacks, then provided his own message about the travel ban.

A few minutes later Trump tweeted a message of support for Londoners: “Whatever the United States can do to help out in London and the U.K., we will be there - WE ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS!”

Last week, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to immediately reinstate its ban on travelers from six majority-Muslim countries and refugees from anywhere in the world. The administration argues that the U.S. will be safer if the policy is put in place.