Trump seeks quick Supreme Court review of 'travel ban'

WASHINGTON – President Trump asked legal aides Monday to seek a quick Supreme Court review of what he calls his "travel ban" from six Muslim countries – one of a series of tweets that could well undercut his case before the justices.

Suggesting he wants to expand travel restrictions in the wake of the weekend terrorist attack in London, Trump said: "The Justice Dept. should ask for an expedited hearing of the watered down Travel Ban before the Supreme Court - & seek much tougher version!"

He did not specify what a "tougher version" might entail.

Trump's use of the term "ban" is in contrast to other administration officials who have said the White House is seeking travel restrictions rather than a blanket ban, which would be more vulnerable to legal challenge. In another tweet, Trump said the updated version of his initial travel order is "politically correct," which will be fodder for the ban's critics who have argued that Trump's real target all along had been Muslims who want to enter the United States.

One of the attorneys involved in a lawsuit against the travel order, Neal Katyal, indicated he would use Trump's tweets against him in arguments before the Supreme Court. In a tweet of his own, Katyal it is "kinda odd" to have Trump "acting as our co-counsel. We don't need the help but will take it!"

And attorney George Conway – husband of Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway – tweeted that Trump's posts may make some people "feel better," but that won't help the travel order receive the necessary five votes on the Supreme Court, and that "is what actually matters. Sad."

In another message, Trump took a swipe at the courts and said the U.S. needs to a better job of screening people coming into the country because of concern about terrorism: "In any event we are EXTREME VETTING people coming into the U.S. in order to help keep our country safe. The courts are slow and political!"

Late Monday night, Trump followed up with another tweet explaining the rationale behind his travel ban, explaining: "That's right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won't help us protect our people!"

Lower courts have ruled against Trump's proposal to temporarily ban travel from six Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Some judges cited Trump's own campaign rhetoric – including calls to block all Muslims from entering the country until terrorist screening procedures could be improved – in saying the plan improperly targets religion.

While Trump aides once disputed the term "ban," the president has trumpeted the word in the days since the terrorist attack in London. On Monday, the president tweeted: "People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN!"

There have been two versions of the travel order. After courts struck down an initial version, aides removed Iraq from the list and made other changes that Trump criticized during the Monday tweet storm.

"The Justice Dept. should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C.," Trump said.

While Trump criticized the Justice Department over the wording of the current order, it should be noted: He signed it.