Questions about President Donald Trump's halted executive order banning immigration from seven predominantly Muslim country hung over his otherwise sunny meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.

The president faced repeated questions about the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in support of a lower court's suspension of his immigration executive order. Earlier in the day, Trump denounced the court's "disgraceful" decision.

Speaking at a news conference with Abe, Trump promised new actions related to security in the coming days and indicated that the Justice Department would continue to go through the process to appeal the courts' decisions.

"We are going to do whatever is necessary to keep our country is safe," Trump said. "We will continue to go through the court process, and ultimately I have no doubt that we'll win that particular case."

Trump promised to move "rapidly" to block the entry of "people into our country who are looking to harm our people." He did not provide more specific information about what form those actions would take.

The Japanese prime minister is one of the earliest foreign leaders to visit Washington to engage with Trump and the new administration, as Japan aims to protect its position as a longtime U.S. ally.

Trump responded to Abe's overtures with praise. He complemented Abe's "firm" handshake and reaffirmed the long history of between the two countries.

Golf diplomacy: Trump and Japanese prime minister to hit the links Saturday Mari Yamaguchi

If they stick to schedule, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump will spend more time on the fairways than at the White House. After facing off on some divisive issues in Washington on Friday, they jet to Florida, where they will turn to something they have in common...

If they stick to schedule, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump will spend more time on the fairways than at the White House. After facing off on some divisive issues in Washington on Friday, they jet to Florida, where they will turn to something they have in common...

(Mari Yamaguchi)

"When I greeted him today at the car, I was saying I shook hands, but I grabbed him and I hugged him because that's the way we feel," Trump said. "I'll let you know if that changes, but I don't think it will."

Abe pointedly highlighted the U.S-Japanese relationship as the "cornerstone" of peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

He also repeatedly praised Trump for being a "successful businessman," and for his ability to win a difficult presidential contest, a topic that is a favorite of the new president's.

"You have fought the uphill struggle and fight for more than a year in the election campaign to become a new president, and this is the dynamism of democracy," Abe said.

The two will travel later in the day to Florida, where they will continue to meet at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, which the president has dubbed the "winter White House."

Abe largely avoided talking in specifics about Trump's decision to break with his predecessor and withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade deal that Trump opposed during the campaign.

Trump agrees to honor one-China policy in 'extremely cordial' call to China's Xi Jinping Simon Denyer

President Donald Trump held a lengthy, "extremely cordial" telephone conversation with China's President Xi Jinping late on Thursday evening in Washington, and - in a move set to ease tensions between the two nations - agreed to honor the one-China policy, the White House said in a statement.

The...

President Donald Trump held a lengthy, "extremely cordial" telephone conversation with China's President Xi Jinping late on Thursday evening in Washington, and - in a move set to ease tensions between the two nations - agreed to honor the one-China policy, the White House said in a statement.

The...

(Simon Denyer)

But he did promise that Japan would support Trump's economic "growth strategy."

"There will be even more new jobs born in the U.S.," Abe said.

The two will continue their discussions at a working lunch at the White House before leaving for Florida.

 

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