CNN's Jake Tapper Challenges Trump's Commitment to Religious Freedom: What About Muslim Travel Ban?

CNN’s Jake Tapper on Monday pushed back on President Donald Trump’s commitment to religious freedom, citing the administrations early efforts to implement a Muslim travel ban.

In the wake of weekend attacks on a New York Hanukkah celebration and a Texas church service, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted, “Grateful to @realDonaldTrump and @VP for their commitment to protect #religiousfreedom at home and abroad. Thankful for the work of @IRF_Ambassador carrying the mantle on these issues. The fight to secure a religiously free world is urgent, and the U.S. will continue to lead.”

In under five minutes, Tapper responded to Pompeo: “The president proposed banning Muslims from entering the country and then his administration worked to make a legal version of such an order. That’s not a commitment to protecting #religiousfreedom.”

Also Read: Legal Challenges Begin as Trump's Revised Travel Ban Takes Effect

Trump himself tweeted in response to the Saturday stabbing that took place in a rabbi’s New York home, calling it “horrific” and offering thoughts on behalf of himself and the first lady. “We must all come together to fight, confront, and eradicate the evil scourge of anti-Semitism,” he wrote Sunday.

Three died in the Sunday attack at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, including the suspected shooter. CNN aired the church’s livestreamed service footage, which showed the moment the gunman opened fire and a church security guard returned fire. No one died during the Hanukkah celebration stabbing.

In 2017, Trump faced nationwide protests over an executive order banning visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries. He denied that the move was a “Muslim ban” and blamed the media. “To be clear this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting,” said Trump in a statement released by the White House at the time. “This is not about religion — this is about terror and keeping our country safe.”

9 People Stopped at Airports Under Trump's Travel Ban (Photos)

On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The ban is now tied up in courts, but Trump has announced plans for a new ban.

The first travel ban affected about 90,000 people. Here's an introduction to eight of them.
Muhammad Ali Jr.

Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali's son and his mother were stopped by immigration officials at the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

CNN
Khalilah Camacho-Ali was let go after showing officials a photo of her and her then-husband Muhammad Ali, but Muhammad Ali, Jr. was questioned for an hour and 45 minutes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
We can't say conclusively why the Alis were stopped, but the family's lawyer said that the officials kept asking Ali Jr. about his religion. (The elder Ali is pictured here with President George W. Bush, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.)
Hameed Khalid Darweesh

Hameed Khalid Darweesh worked for over 10 years as an interpreter for the U.S government in Iraq.

According the the New York Times, Darweesh was detained at JFK airport for about 19 hours before he was allowed to enter the U.S.

“What I do for this country? They put the cuffs on,” Darweesh told the Times.
A 5-year-old boy

A 5-year-old boy was detained for a few hours at Washington Dulles International Airport.

According to the Independent, the boy is a U.S. citizen who lives with his Iranian mother in Maryland and was traveling with another family member at the time.
“To assume that just because of someone’s age and gender that they don’t pose a threat would be misguided and wrong,” said White House press secretary Sean Spicer.
Areej Ali

The 33-year-old software developer, a green-card holder, was detained in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and again in Los Angeles. She said she was returning from her sister's wedding in Sudan.

Her family found a lawyer who noted that the ban did not apply to people with green cards, according to the Daily Bulletin.

Fusion
Mazdak Tootkaboni and Arghavan Louhghalam

This husband and wife are associate professors at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and both are permanent residents of the United States, but are Iranian in nationality.

According to the Guardian, the two professors were coming back from a conference in France when they were stopped at Boston's Logan airport and questioned for four hours before being released.
Getty
Sidd Bikkannavar

The U.S.-born Muslim scientist says he was detained under President Trump’s travel ban and forced by border agents to unlock his NASA-issued phone.

Bikkannavar is an employee at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and was coming back from a trip in Patagonia when he was detained. Patagonia is a region in Argentina and Chile -- neither of which are among the countries covered by the travel ban.
YouTube
Khanon Mahindokht Azad

According to the Guardian, Khanon Mahindokht Azad is a 78-year-old Iranian grandmother who visits the U.S. every now and then to see her kids -- who are U.S. citizens.

After 27 hours of being detained at LAX, she was finally allowed into the country.
Getty

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From a legendary boxer’s son to a 5-year-old boy to a woman visiting her grandkids

On Jan. 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order restricting travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. The ban is now tied up in courts, but Trump has announced plans for a new ban.

The first travel ban affected about 90,000 people. Here's an introduction to eight of them.

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9 People Stopped at Airports Under Trump's Travel Ban (Photos)

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