Trump vows to keep 'radical Islamic terrorists' out US

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump pledged Friday to keep "radical Islamic terrorists" out of the U.S. as he prepares to issue an executive order likely next week to do so.

The order will replace an earlier one that was met with subsequent legal defeats in U.S. courts. It sought to bar residents of seven Muslim-majority countries from U.S. entry, and was roundly criticized by some who said it unfairly targeted Muslims - a claim the Trump administration strongly denies.

"We are going to keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country," he said at a conservative gathering outside Washington, DC.

"We will not be deterred from this course, and in a matter of days, we will be taking brand-new action to protect our people and keep America safe, you will see the action. I will never ever apologize for protecting the safety and security of the American people, I won't do it," Trump added.

During his presidential campaign, Trump said he would ban Muslims from coming to the United States, a proposal he later walked back to include "extreme vetting" of those from countries with a history of terrorism.

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court rejected Trump's first attempt at meeting the pledge, questioning its constitutionality and the administration's rationale, which Trump said was "a bad decision".

Specifically, a three-judge panel said the administration failed to present any evidence that citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen had ever carried out a terrorist attack in the U.S.

The judges also said states that challenged the order, which many have criticized as a "Muslim ban", raised serious concerns that it targeted Muslims.

Following the legal setback, Trump promised to quickly replace the order.

"If it means I get bad press, if it means people speak badly of me, it's OK, doesn't bother me. The security of our people is number one, is number one," Trump said to applause from the audience in Maryland.