In an extraordinary intervention, he accused the new US President’s critics of a “hysterical overreaction that poses a danger to the kind of constructive relationship we should have with the President”.
As thousands of protesters took to the streets of London yesterday to demand Prime Minister Theresa May end her “collusion” with the controversial US leader, the retired clergyman says that many dictators and tyrants beat Mr Trump to the title of “world’s worst politician”.
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Writing exclusively for the Sunday Express today he says: “I cannot recall such demonstrations against terrible autocratic regimes such as Burma, Sudan and North Korea.
“But it is one of the key characteristics of those who consider themselves progressive to reserve condemnation for America, ‘the West’, or Israel and ignore much greater evil-doers.”
Lord Carey also applauds Mr Trump’s decision to put persecuted Christians at the front of the refugee queue.
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The former Archbishop of Canterbury said Saturday’s Trump protest was a ’hysterical overreaction’ The UK Reacts To Trump's 'Muslim' Travel Ban Mon, January 30, 2017
President Trump signed an executive order banning immigration to the USA from seven 'muslim' countries. This led to protests across America and, now, the UK.
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People demonstrate during a protest at Downing Street in central London against US President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban on refugees and people from seven mainly-Muslim countries
Urging the Government to “hold Trump close rather than push him away”, he adds: “We have an opportunity not just to strike a trade deal but to shape the Presidency and help make Trump a better leader.”
I cannot recall such demonstrations against terrible autocratic regimes such as Burma, Sudan and North Korea
George Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury
Lord Carey’s views appear at odds with the opinions of other religious leaders.
Today Cardinal Vincent Nichols will make a veiled attack on the President by calling on people to exercise more self-restraint on social media and “think twice before you tweet”.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales will also accuse politicians of “playing the fear card” and criticise the Government’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis as not being generous enough.
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Demonstrators marched through central London yesterday
He will praise German chancellor Angela Merkel’s “motivation and intentions” in accepting hundreds of thousands of refugees into Germany, telling Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “Otherwise it’s the extreme voices that win.
True political leadership does not play the fear card.”
Mr Trump’s ban on migrants from seven majority-Muslim countries entering the US was thrown into chaos yesterday after being blocked by a federal judge in Seattle.
Judge James Robart, appointed by George Bush in 2003, ruled that the ban, signed last weekend, would be halted temporarily nationwide, effective immediately, on the grounds that it violates the constitutional rights of immigrants and their families.
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Lord Cary called for the world to give President Trump a chance
Homeland Security announced that the ban had been suspended after the judge’s ruling, but said it was seeking to reverse the ruling.
Vowing to overturn it, Mr Trump tweeted yesterday: “The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!
“When a country is no longer able to say who can, and who cannot, come in and out, especially for reasons of safety and security – big trouble!
“Interesting that certain Middle Eastern countries agree with the ban. They know if certain people are allowed in it’s death & destruction!”
The timing of ban, which was imposed while Mrs May was in Turkey, caused embarrassment for Downing Street after she was criticised for not being quick enough in her condemnation.
The success of Mrs May’s earlier visit to the White House had encouraged aides to discuss plans to invite Mr Trump to speak at the Conservative Party Conference in October.
It was intended to reciprocate Mrs May’s well-received speech at the Republican Party’s Congressional conference in Philadelphia.
However, just days after the idea was first hatched, a party spokesman signalled a U-turn by claiming there are “no plans” to invite the President to address Tories.
The statement was issued in response to a letter to Conservative Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin from Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who said that any invitation to conference for the President “would be unacceptable”.
The MP for Denton and Reddish wrote: “The President should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values with his shameful Muslim ban and attacks on refugees’ and women’s rights.”
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He also applauded Mr Trump for putting persecuted Christians at the front of the refugee queue
Although it was initially thought the state visit would be held in the first week of June, speculation began mounting last week that it would be delayed until October in order to allow the furore surrounding his trip to die down.
Despite 1.8 million people signing an online petition to ban Mr Trump from Britain, Mrs May’s officials say there is no question of the controversial invitation being withdrawn.
A poll has found that a quarter of British holidaymakers have been put off visiting America following the “Muslim ban”. HolidayExtras.com found that 25 per cent of those surveyed would reconsider a holiday to the US in protest at the immigration restrictions. But for 49 per cent it would make no difference to their travel plans.
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