US PRESIDENT Donald Trump says he might give his refugee and immigration travel ban a second try, either as a revision or as a new order, as he contends with an appeals court ruling that prevents the ban from being enforced.

Trump said he expected to win the legal battle over his original directive even though options were being considered by the White House.

Advisers were debating the next step in response to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a restraining order on the travel ban. The White House directive had suspended the nation’s refugee program and barred all entries from seven Muslim-majority countries.

A White House official initially suggested the administration would not ask the Supreme Court to overturn that order. But chief of staff Reince Priebus scrambled to clarify to reporters that “every single court option is on the table,” including a high court appeal or “fighting out this case on the merits” in a lower court.

media_camera President Trump’s team said “every single court option is on the table” to get its travel ban reinstated. Picture: AP/Carolyn Kaster

Trump’s executive order was hastily unveiled at the end of his first week in office. While the White House boasted that Trump was fulfilling a campaign promise to toughen vetting procedures for people coming from countries with terror ties, the order caused chaos at airports in the US and sparked protests across the country.

FIGHT WON’T BE HELD IN THE SUPREME COURT

DONALD Trump won’t take his travel ban fight to the Supreme Court as he hinted at new security measures.

Mr Trump said he had no immediate plans to fight for his migrant ban at the Supreme Court and was considering a new executive order to overcome legal hurdles.

Insisting that he has the law on his side — despite two defeats in federal court in quick succession — Trump said security concerns may dictate a quicker response.

“The unfortunate part is that it takes time statutorily, but we will win that battle. We also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order,” he said, adding that any action would not come before next week.

media_camera President Donald Trump has hinted at new security measures. Picture: AP/Evan Vucci

Mr Trump said earlier he was confident his administration would prevail in the court battle over its controversial immigration order, while pledging to move quickly on additional national security measures.

“We’ll be doing something very rapidly having to do with additional security for our country,” he told a joint White House news conference.

“You’ll be seeing that sometime next week.”

“In addition we will continue to go through the court process, and I have no doubt we’ll win that particular case,” Mr Trump said, a day after a federal appeals court maintained a freeze on his travel ban affecting nationals from seven Muslim-majority nations.

He also tweeted that he would be in court.

SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2017

OFFICIALS PARTY VERIFY RUSSIAN DOSSIER

US investigators said they have corroborated some of the communications in a 35-page Russian dossier reported CNN.

It was reported last year that Russian operatives have a raft of comprising material on Mr Trump that they are holding to use against him.

US intelligence chiefs briefed Mr Trump and then outgoing President Barack Obama on the damaging allegations.

The allegations included reports that the Russian regime “has been cultivating, supporting and assisting Trump for at least five years” and that Mr Trump was allegedly involved in “perverted sexual acts” during a visit to Moscow.

However none of the newly corroborated information relates to the allegations above but instead relates to conversations between foreign nationals. The dossier details about a dozen conversations between senior Russian officials and other Russian individuals.

CNN reports the corroboration, based on intercepted communications, has given US intelligence and law enforcement “greater confidence” in the credibility of some aspects of the dossier as investigations continue.

media_camera President Donald Trump has ended his travel ban court battle. Picture: AP/Evan Vucci

TRUMP’S EPIC HANDSHAKE

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe couldn’t hide his discomfort after experiencing one of Mr Trump’s cringe-worthy tug and pull handshakes.

The two came together for a joint press conference before Abe and his wife went to Florida for the weekend with the President and his wife Melania.

But as the pair posed for photos Mr Abe experienced Mr Trump’s rough handshake which lasted for a total of 19 seconds — and his face made it clear he didn’t look happy.

Abe's facial expression is 🔥 pic.twitter.com/etYaiNH6vp — Brenna Williams (@brennawilliams) February 10, 2017

And the internet was quick to react.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂Shinzo Abe's expression after the 19s handshake with @realDonaldTrump is one for the ages!!!😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 — Emma Thompson (@realthomp) February 10, 2017

Was Trump's awkward handshake with Shinzo Abe really just an endorsement deal in the making? #handshakedrugs pic.twitter.com/JHw7KjKYAB — Michael Lawson (@muddyinindy) February 10, 2017

Shinzo Abe after the handshake with @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/ai6bC27irc — Michael Charney (@Mancharney) February 10, 2017

And it seems when Mr Trump went in for a second handshake at the end of their press conference, Abe was a little reluctant to go there again.

media_camera President Donald Trump extends his hand to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Picture: AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

UK DITCHES PLAN TO LET TRUMP SPEAK

It came as the UK Government shelved plans for Mr Trump to address parliament during a state visit later this year.

It comes after objections from MPs led by the Commons Speaker John Bercow.

The President’s controversial visit is now expected to run from Thursday to Sunday, when Parliament will not be sitting, to avoid a formal snub.

Buckingham Palace, the Government and the White House are now discussing a formal visit at the end of August or September, Westminster sources say.

A source told The Guardian the plan was “the preferred option at our end”.

RATINGS AGENCY SAYS TRUMP IS RISKY

Meanwhile, one of the world’s major credit agencies has told investors that Mr Trump poses a big risk to the global economy.

Fitch Ratings put out a report overnight saying Mr Trump’s “America first” pledge and his push towards more protectionist policies was a threat not only to global trade but to sovereign bonds and the overall economy as well.

media_camera A man walks in front of an electric quotation board flashing the Nikkei key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo. Picture: AFP

“The Trump Administration represents a risk to international economic conditions and global sovereign credit fundamentals,” Fitch said. “US policy predictability has diminished, with established international communication channels and relationship norms being set aside and raising the prospect of sudden, unanticipated changes in US policies with potential global implications.”

While Fitch said tax cuts and deregulation could help boost the economy

“In Fitch’s view, the present balance of risks points toward a less benign global outcome,” it said. “In short, a lot can change, but the aggressive tone of some Administration rhetoric does not portend an easy period of negotiation ahead, nor does it suggest there is much scope for compromise.”

Economists at Goldman Sachs this week predicted that a US-China standoff is a near certainty given Mr Trump’s anti-trade rhetoric.

“Trump has been publicly critical of US trade policy for decades and made it a key aspect of his campaign; we see little reason to believe that he will not follow through on these commitments in general terms,” said Andrew Tilton, chief Asia-Pacific economist at Goldman Sachs, in a report he co-authored with Alec Phillips, senior U.S. political economist.

media_camera Donald Trump (L) was reportedly unimpressed after calling his National Security Adviser Michael Flynn (R) at 3am to ask him an economics question. Picture: Getty

Mr Trump was criticised this week for calling National Security Adviser Michael Flynn at 3am to ask about the economic impact of a strong US dollar, according to the Huffington Post.

Citing sources with knowledge of the conversation, the publication reported that Mr Trump asked the retired lieutenant general if the strong dollar was good or bad for the US economy.

According to the sources, General Flynn said he was not sure and that Mr Trump should ask an economist. The US president was reportedly “not thrilled with that response”.

TRUMP TALKS UP UKRAINE SUPPORT

The US president has expressed support for an undivided Ukraine in a letter to Lithuania’s president that is likely to be welcomed in Kiev and by the NATO alliance.

“Your support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as your efforts to increase energy diversification, advance our shared goal to enhance European and regional security,” Mr Trump wrote in a February 8 letter posted on the website of the US embassy in Vilnius.

media_camera Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with US President Donald Trump on Thursday. Picture: Michel Euler/AP

TRUMP SAYS CHAT WITH CHINA WAS ‘WARM’

Mr Trump described his telephone talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping as “very warm,” while he reassured Japan that improved US-Chinese ties were not a threat to Tokyo.

“We had a very, very good talk last night, and discussed a lot of subjects. It was a long talk,” Mr Trump told a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

He said he and Mr Xi were “in the process of getting along very well, and I think it will be very much of a benefit to Japan.”

Earlier, Mr Trump rounded on the New York Times over his interactions with Mr Xi in one of his trademark Twitter attacks.

Calling the paper’s reporting “FAKE NEWS” he called to account a story saying the Chinese President and he had not spoken since November after they spoke on Thursday evening, Washington time.

The failing @nytimes does major FAKE NEWS China story saying "Mr.Xi has not spoken to Mr. Trump since Nov.14." We spoke at length yesterday! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2017

During the long-awaited call the leaders discussed “numerous” topics at length and Mr Trump agreed to honour the “one China” policy, the White House said — though it said Mr Trump did so “at the request of President Xi.”

It described the call as “extremely cordial” and said the two leaders had invited each other to visit their respective countries and looked forward to further discussions.

More than two months after deviating from decades of American diplomacy regarding Taiwan by accepting a phone call from the self-governing island’s president, Mr Trump appeared to be trying to reassure Beijing he would not seek to up-end relations between the world’s two-largest economies.

media_camera Kellyanne Conway has thrown shade at Hillary Clinton on Twitter. Picture: AFP media_camera Hillary Clinton took to Twitter to mock President Trump. Picture: Sait Serkan Gurbuz/APSource:AP

“This is an important step,” said Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser on Asia at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. “This will now pave the way for the engagement of the U.S. and Chinese governments on a wide range of issues.”

CLINTON TROLLS TRUMP OVER BAN DEFEAT

Hillary Clinton took to Twitter to mock President Trump for losing at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled Thursday that the halt to his travel ban would remain in place.

“3-0,” Mrs Clinton tweeted right after the ruling had been handed down, New York Post reports.

3-0 — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 10, 2017

The score appeared to allude to the unanimous 3-0 decision handed down by the appeals court.

But Trump World isn’t too shabby on Twitter, either.

White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway responded with her own mockery of Mrs Clinton.

“PA, WI, MI,” Conway said, referring to the states Mrs Clinton was supposed to win handily in the 2016 election, but ended up losing to Donald Trump.

OBAMACARE IN DOUBT AS TRUMP NOMINEE SWORN-IN

Georgia congressman Tom Price has been sworn as health and human services secretary, setting the stage for the conservative to play a leading role in dismantling President Barack Obama’s health care law. Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath to Dr Price hours after he won Senate confirmation on a narrow 52-47 vote early on Friday.

media_camera Tom Price is an avowed critic of Obamacare. Picture: Andrew Harnik/AP

Dr Price is an orthopedic surgeon who is expected to help scuttle the Affordable Care Act, in part, by issuing regulations to weaken it.

Democrats called Dr Price an ideologue with a questionable history of trading health care stocks and warned that he would take away health insurance from millions of Americans.

He took the oath of office at the White House just hours after the Senate confirmed him 52-47 in a party-line vote.

TRUMP TELLS ISRAEL ‘TO BE REASONABLE’

Mr Trump is calling on “Israel to be reasonable with respect to peace”, spelling out in his own words his administration’s stance that new settlements on Palestinian land may not be helpful in an interview with an Israeli newspaper.

Mr Trump’s comments to Israel Today come as he tones down his pro-Israel bravado ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the White House on February 15.

media_camera Mr Trump has toned down his pro-Israel rhetoric. Picture: Mandel Ngan/AFP

“I want Israel to be reasonable with respect to peace. I want to see peace happen,” Mr Trump said in the interview published on Friday. “I would like to see a level of reasonableness of both parties, and I think we have a good chance of doing that.”

During his 2016 election campaign, Mr Trump signalled his presidency would be a boon for Israel and tough on Palestinians. Now Mr Trump is adopting a more measured stance.

IRAQ ASKS TRUMP TO END TRAVEL BAN

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi asked Mr Trump to lift the ban on people from his country travelling to the United States, in the first phone call between the two leaders, the Iraqi government says.

“Mr Trump stressed the importance of co-ordination to find a solution to this issue as soon as possible and that he will direct the US State Department in this regard,” the government said in a statement, adding that it was the US president who had initiated the call on Thursday.

Mr Trump has said he will keep pushing to reinstate an executive order temporarily banning people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

A US judge suspended the order last week and a court refused on Thursday an appeal to reinstate it.

Originally published as Travel ban might get a slight tweak