Trump warns senators ‘looking to start World War III’

President Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump: 'No choice' on continuing government shutdown Syrian troop withdraw will take four months: report Kim Jong Un: North Korea may 'seek a new path' if US doesn't negotiate MORE defended his executive order on immigration and refugee policy Sunday afternoon in two tweets, posted at around the same time the White House released a statement from the president.

The statement stressed the importance of keeping the country safe and denied that the order amounts to a Muslim ban. But the tweets were a more direct response to criticism from Sens. John McCainJohn Sidney McCainThis week: Shutdown showdown looms over new Congress Juan Williams: Tech companies must be defanged by government What a year it’s been: A month-by-month look back at 2018's biggest stories MORE (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamSyrian troop withdraw will take four months: report Trump defends Syria troop withdrawal as 'doing what I said I was going to do' Trump claims 'wall' around Obamas' DC home is 'same thing' as border wall MORE (R-S.C.), two outspoken Republicans.

“The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong - they are sadly weak on immigration,” Trump said.

“The two ... Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III.”

The joint statement of former presidential candidates John McCain & Lindsey Graham is wrong - they are sadly weak on immigration. The two...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017

...Senators should focus their energies on ISIS, illegal immigration and border security instead of always looking to start World War III.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2017

Earlier Sunday, in a joint statement, McCain and Graham said the executive order “sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security."

Trump on Friday signed an executive order calling for a 90-day ban on nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries entering the United States. The order also includes a 120-day halt on admitting refugees and an indefinite pause on admitting refugees from Syria.