President Trump Hosts Japan's PM In Palm Beach As Travel Ban Dominates Headlines
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WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) - President Donald Trump is hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the so-called "Winter White House" over the weekend.
The president and the prime minister left Friday afternoon for his Mar-a-Lago Estate in Palm Beach.
Late Friday evening, President Trump and the first lady hosted a dinner for the Japanese prime minister and his wife at Mar-a-Lago.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft dined with the diplomats.
Earlier, the president and prime minister held a joint press conference where they talked trade and the future of U.S.-Japan relations.
Over the weekend, they will get in a round of golf and discuss trade issues, particularly in light of President Trump withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement.
President Trump has made it clear that he will withdraw but at the news conference, the president spoke of the importance of the Japanese leader's visit.
"I am truly glad that it could be from such an important and steadfast ally. The bond between our two nations and the friendship between our two peoples runs very, very deep," said President Trump.
But while the President worked to strengthen the U.S. alliance with Japan, the headlines were dominated by more discussion over his Executive Order on that controversial travel ban.
Aboard Air Force One, the president spoke about the issue.
"It takes a little time. We'll win that battle. But we also have a lot of other options, including just a following a brand new order on Monday," he told a reporter.
"Is that your plan?" the reporter followed up with.
"Could very well be. I like to keep you… I like to surprise you. We need speed for reasons of security, so it could very well be that we do that," Trump said.
What he said echoed his comments from earlier in the day.
"We'll be doing something very rapidly having to do with additional security for our country. You'll be seeing that sometime next week."
A federal appeals court on Thursday ruled that the President's executive order enforcing the travel ban must remain on hold.
The Obama Administration had identified the same seven nations affected as the most ripe for terrorism.
The Trump Administration argues that a temporary ban is needed while they review the vetting procedures from the previous administration.
One option, according to CBS News sources, is stepping up review of those vetting procedures without a travel ban in place to see if stronger vetting measures are needed.
That would avoid a messy and protracted legal fight and possibly render an executive order unnecessary.
Benjamin Wittes, with the Brookings Institution, touched on the issue.
"There is a concern that the reckless manner President Trump did this order and the litigation that ensued will cause the courts to put limits on perfectly legitimate authorities," he said.
Late Friday night, we learned that there is a chance the entire California-based federal appeals court could review the three judge ruling from Thursday.
The White House says they might also ask Supreme Court to review the issue.
As for the president's trip to Florida, his getaway last weekend, during the annual Red Cross Ball, was met with protests from an estimated 3,000 demonstrators.
Organizers of the march vowed to protest against Trump whenever he returns to Palm Beach which would be this weekend.
CBS4's Carey Codd spoke with one activist group that said they expect protesters at the Jupiter golf course where the president and the Japanese prime minister will be playing golf on Saturday.
Environmentalists who oppose the Dakota Pipeline are expected to protest as the president leaves town on Sunday night.