Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a strong message to radical Islamic jihadists that America and its allies will defeat the “forces of death” who “worship destruction.” Speaking in defence of his immigration ban, said he will not allow them to get a foothold in the country.

“We’re up against an enemy that celebrates death and totally worships destruction. You’ve seen that,” Mr. Trump said during his first visit to Central Command which is responsible for an area that includes the Middle East and Central Asia.

“ISIS is on a campaign of genocide, committing atrocities across the world,” he said.

The Central Command plays an important role in the US-led mission against the Islamic State terrorist group. Mr. Trump, now in his third week as the US President, visited the command centre on his way back to the White House after a three-day break in Florida.

Mr. Trump made the comments after a lunch with troops from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

“Radical Islamic terrorists are determined to strike our homeland, as they did on 9/11, as they did from Boston to Orlando to San Bernardino and all across Europe. You’ve seen what happened in Paris and Nice. All over Europe it’s happening. It’s gotten to a point where it’s not even being reported,” he said.

Continuing his tirade against the US media, Mr. Trump alleged that “the very, very dishonest press” does not want to report the incidents of terrorism.

“They have their reasons and you understand that,” he told his commanders.

In an apparent reference to a US federal court halting his executive orders preventing people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, Mr. Trump said the country needs strong programmes so that “people that love us and want to love our country and will end up loving our country are allowed in.”

“Not people that want to destroy us and destroy our country,” he said amidst cheers and applause.

Freedom, security and justice will prevail, he asserted.