White House, US envoys clash over ‘ban’

WASHINGTON — The White House clashed on Monday with a large group of American diplomats who are voicing dissent with Donald Trump’s temporary travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim countries, challenging them to resign if they aren’t on board.

“They should either get with the programme or they can go,” Sean Spicer, Trump’s press secretary, said. In startling language, Spicer dismissed the criticism from what he called “career bureaucrats.” While he later said Trump appreciates the work of public servants, Spicer said they should respect the desires of the American people and the importance Trump places on protecting the country.

“If somebody has a problem with that agenda, that does call into question whether they should continue in that post or not,” Spicer said. “This is about the safety of America,” he said.

The comments came after diplomats circulated a memo arguing that the executive order Trump signed last week will not make the US safe, runs counter to American values and will fuel anti-American sentiment around the world.

“A policy which closes our doors to over 200 million legitimate travellers in the hopes of preventing a small number of travellers who intend to harm Americans from using the visa system to enter the US will not achieve its aim of making our country safer,” the diplomats wrote in a so-called “dissent cable” drafted for State Department leadership.

“This ban stands in opposition to the core American and constitutional values that we, as federal employees, took an oath to uphold,” a draft of the cable said.

US officials said at least several hundred diplomats indicated they would sign the memo and that it was expected to be formally submitted later Monday. —