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Major Tech Companies File Brief Opposing Trump Travel Ban Donald Trump Says ‘Negative Polls Are Fake News’
(35 minutes later)
You may have been up late watching an epic Super Bowl finish, and missed the fact that major American technology companies are joining the court fight to oppose President Trump’s travel restrictions on the citizens of certain countries. Opposition to President Trump’s travel restrictions on certain country was mounting on Monday, but Mr. Trump remained defiant and unbowed.
■ Mr. Trump turned to Twitter early Monday and began challenging polls that showed his travel order was not popular.
■ A bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials also filed court documents opposing the ban.■ A bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials also filed court documents opposing the ban.
■ Mr. Trump will receive a military briefing in Tampa, Fla., before returning to Washington on Monday. ■ The president will receive a military briefing in Tampa, Fla., before returning to Washington on Monday.
■ Vice President Mike Pence may have to be summoned to the Capitol to break a tie and save the nomination of Betsy Devos as education secretary. ■ Vice President Mike Pence may have to be summoned to the Capitol to break a tie and save the nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.
It’s official: Silicon Valley really, really despises Mr. Trump’s immigration order.It’s official: Silicon Valley really, really despises Mr. Trump’s immigration order.
Overnight, 97 companies — most of them technology firms, including Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft — filed a legal brief arguing that the ban is unconstitutional and harms the interests of American businesses.Overnight, 97 companies — most of them technology firms, including Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft — filed a legal brief arguing that the ban is unconstitutional and harms the interests of American businesses.
The brief, filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is blunt and direct. The ban, it says, “hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace; and gives global enterprises a new, significant incentive to build operations — and hire new employees — outside the United States.”The brief, filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, is blunt and direct. The ban, it says, “hinders the ability of American companies to attract great talent; increases costs imposed on business; makes it more difficult for American firms to compete in the international marketplace; and gives global enterprises a new, significant incentive to build operations — and hire new employees — outside the United States.”
It is a remarkable statement of unity from the country’s technology companies, many of which rely heavily on foreign workers. And it is a shot across the bow for Mr. Trump, foreshadowing a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley leaders over the next four years.It is a remarkable statement of unity from the country’s technology companies, many of which rely heavily on foreign workers. And it is a shot across the bow for Mr. Trump, foreshadowing a rocky relationship with Silicon Valley leaders over the next four years.
Mr. Trump weighed in this morning with a Twitter message that said several recent polls were wrong and that Americans supported his position. Mr. Trump appears not to like the news he’s reading Monday morning.
And the president said his decisions were driven by data. In one Twitter post, the president rejected reports of polls showing that a majority of Americans oppose his travel order. In another, he appeared to lash out at suggestions that Stephen K. Bannon, his chief strategist, holds the real power in the West Wing.
The companies were not the only ones joining in opposition. Susan E. Rice, former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, was among the leaders of a petition signed by a bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials. A CNN poll released over the weekend said that 55 percent of Americans viewed Mr. Trump’s travel order as an attempt to keep Muslims out of the country.
The president also seemed angry about the Mr. Bannon-in-charge story line, which was featured in a Time magazine article and in a “Saturday Night Live” skit showing Mr. Bannon as the Grim Reaper directing Mr. Trump’s activities in the White House.
On Twitter, Mr. Trump called that “fake news” that sought to marginalize him.
The companies were not the only ones joining in opposition to the immigration order. Susan E. Rice, former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, was among the leaders of a petition signed by a bipartisan group of former National Security Council officials.
Mr. Trump begins his week with a quick stop at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa for his first photo opportunity as commander in chief.Mr. Trump begins his week with a quick stop at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa for his first photo opportunity as commander in chief.
Heading back to Washington after a long weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, Mr. Trump will receive briefings from commanders at the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command, both located on the base. He will also have lunch with troops there, give a speech and meet with Gov. Rick Scott of Florida. On his way back to Washington after a long weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida estate, Mr. Trump will receive briefings from commanders at the United States Central Command and the United States Special Operations Command, both located on the base. He will also have lunch with troops there, give a speech and meet with Gov. Rick Scott of Florida.
The visit will give Mr. Trump a less grim military moment than last week, when he traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the remains of William Ryan Owens, a team leader in the Navy SEALs who was killed in an operation in Yemen. The visit will give Mr. Trump a less grim military moment than last week, when he traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor the remains of William “Ryan” Owens, a team leader in the Navy SEALs who was killed in an operation in Yemen.
The president plans to return to Washington in the early afternoon, amid reports of chaos inside his White House.The president plans to return to Washington in the early afternoon, amid reports of chaos inside his White House.
Mr. Pence may be called on to save Mr. Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Betsy Devos. Mr. Pence may be called on to save Mr. Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos.
In case of a tie in the Senate, Mr. Pence may have to cast the 51st vote to confirm Ms. DeVos as education secretary over vociferous, now bipartisan objections. The Senate could vote on her nomination as late as Tuesday.In case of a tie in the Senate, Mr. Pence may have to cast the 51st vote to confirm Ms. DeVos as education secretary over vociferous, now bipartisan objections. The Senate could vote on her nomination as late as Tuesday.
The Capitol has been flooded with thousands of calls and messages from constituents, many of them urging senators to vote against Ms. DeVos. Still, it looks unlikely that more Republicans will defect.The Capitol has been flooded with thousands of calls and messages from constituents, many of them urging senators to vote against Ms. DeVos. Still, it looks unlikely that more Republicans will defect.
It would be the first time a vice president casts a tiebreaking vote on a cabinet nomination, said Betty K. Koed, the Senate historian.It would be the first time a vice president casts a tiebreaking vote on a cabinet nomination, said Betty K. Koed, the Senate historian.
Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska thrust Ms. DeVos’s nomination into question last week when they became the first two Republicans to declare their opposition to her. Should the Democratic caucus vote as a bloc, their votes would set up a 50-50 tie that Mr. Pence would have to settle in his capacity as president of the Senate.Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska thrust Ms. DeVos’s nomination into question last week when they became the first two Republicans to declare their opposition to her. Should the Democratic caucus vote as a bloc, their votes would set up a 50-50 tie that Mr. Pence would have to settle in his capacity as president of the Senate.