The Wall Street Journal slammed President Donald Trump's refugee ban, saying it "produced confusion and fear at airports . . . and political fury at home and abroad."
"President Trump seems determined to conduct a shock and awe campaign to fulfill his campaign promises as quickly as possible, while dealing with the consequences later," the newspaper said in an editorial.
It called the president's executive order on refugees "blunderbuss and broad" and said it was "poorly explained and prepared for."
"Start with the rollout late Friday with barely an explanation for the public, or apparently even for border agents or customs officials," the newspaper said.
"The order immediately suspended entry for nationals from seven countries for 90 days, except for exceptions authorized by the secretaries of State or Homeland Security. It also banned refugee entries from Syria indefinitely.
"The airwaves were suddenly full of stories of scientists, business travelers and even approved visa holders detained at the airport and denied entry to the U.S. Tech companies immediately recalled employees for fear that they may not be able to return.
"Even some green-card holders — who have permanent legal residence in the U.S. — were swept up in the border confusion. The White House scrambled Sunday to say green-card holders are exempt from the order, but that should have been made clear from the start."
The newspaper noted that, contrary to some reports, the order is not a "Muslim ban."
"But by suspending all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations, it lets the jihadists portray the order as applying to all Muslims even though it does not."
It said Trump would have been better off ordering more diligent screening and not a blanket ban.
And it noted the U.S. needs Muslim allies, while the jihadists want to portray America as the enemy of all Muslims.
"Overly broad orders send the wrong signal to millions of Muslims who aren't jihadists but who might be vulnerable to recruitment if they conclude the U.S. is at war with Islam, rather than with Islamist radicals."
While noting Trump is right in saying the U.S. government needs shaking up, the Journal added: "Political disruption has its uses but not if it consumes your presidency in the process."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.