Social Media Reacts To Donald Trump's Sweeping Travel Ban

On Friday, President Donald Trump penned an executive order that broadly shuts American borders to a wide swath of travelers.

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By Saturday, chaos had ensued.

As TravelPulse’s Rich Thomaselli wrote, Trump's order will continue over the course of 120 days, effectively shutting off entry into the United States to, “refugees and citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations.”

Over the weekend, that meant the world would watch (mostly in horror) as airport officials detained refugees, leading to widespread protest taking place at airports around the nation. Consequently, a country whose citizens espouse its lasting commitment to inclusion saw many confounded and frustrated as they sought to understand what the travel ban meant to themselves, loved ones and refugees fleeing terror and tragedy.

Social media, as it so often does in these cases, serves as a barometer to the moment, offering a spotlight to the emotion, energy and outpouring from a nation reacting to a motivated administration.

Here are just some of the things we spotted around social media channels.

The biggest tweet was perhaps the one that belongs to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who welcomed those seeking refuge.

To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017

#WelcomeToCanada pic.twitter.com/47edRsHLJ5

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017

Various heads of state and celebrities reacted to the tweet:

ÿ=‹G#WelcometoScotland too. https://t.co/ICmmBgr8Rf

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) January 28, 2017

@JustinTrudeau - thank you sir - ur compassion and leadership is inspiring #ResistTrump

— ROSIE (@Rosie) January 28, 2017

@JustinTrudeau thank you et merci for your acceptance of all. #TogetherWeStand

— Adrian Grenier (@adriangrenier) January 28, 2017

@JustinTrudeau Well said, Sir.  #TruePatriotLove

— Barry Pepper (@BarryPepper) January 28, 2017

Other world leaders also made their thoughts known, even agreeing with President Trump:

President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 28, 2017

Well done @POTUS it's the only way to stay safe + free. I would do the same. Hope you'll add more Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia soon. https://t.co/wR7omIx7Fv

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) January 28, 2017

READ MORE: Immigration Ban Already Having Impact On Travel, Airports

There are tears running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight. pic.twitter.com/X6q40dMCsN

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 27, 2017

Sama Dizayee, the BBC World and Voice of America contributor was flummoxed as to what the ban meant to her travel plans, facing the very real threat that she might be denied entry back into the United States. Here is her exchange with Virgin Atlantic, a carrier that was equally befuddled as to what the executive order meant in her case.

@samadizayee Hi Sama, you will need to contact the British Embassy about this as I don't have an answer for you. ^SR

— Virgin Atlantic (@VirginAtlantic) January 28, 2017

@samadizayee OK, I don't have any info about this Sama so you'll need to contact the US Embassy. ^SR

— Virgin Atlantic (@VirginAtlantic) January 28, 2017

She also poses a very important question:

Have we even discussed what airlines will do abt those who already purchased their flights? The #MuslimBan is very costly. #RefundOurTickets

— Sama Dizayee (@samadizayee) January 28, 2017

The protests over the ban and detainment of migrants at airports had Twitter spinning:

I'm seeing anti-#MuslimBan airport protests in:

JFK
Dulles
LAX
Atlanta
BOS
SFO
O'Hare
Philly
Detroit
Denver
Newark
Seattle

— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) January 29, 2017

Not all heroes wear capes.

Lawyers volunteering their time & knowledge to help free those detained#MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/QknHmlzhOp

— Smol one™ is happy (@ButtonMoonBlake) January 29, 2017

Another detainee was just released. More "USA! USA!" chants and cheers break out. #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/v1ZK7Z1Ott

— randy potts (@thephatic) January 28, 2017

"No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here." #JFKTerminal4 #MuslimBan @ACLU pic.twitter.com/ixOkVyfRfZ

— Tess Borden (@TessBorden) January 28, 2017

Oh look, it's the missing crowd from Inauguration Day protesting the #MuslimBan at JFK Airport! @CNNPolitics @MSNBC pic.twitter.com/oHMYIxRLr1

— PKNI (@pkni) January 28, 2017

The immense reaction and fallout continued:

Confirmed: Iran's Asghar Farhadi won't be let into the US to attend Oscar's. He's nominated for best foreign language film...#MuslimBan

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) January 28, 2017

I want to repeat: Green card holders were handcuffed, their social media was reviewed, and they were asked their views on Trump#MuslimBan

— Trita Parsi (@tparsi) January 28, 2017

Picture of JFK #muslimban protests courtesy of @TylerGHall pic.twitter.com/6ftraNa6IV

— Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) January 29, 2017

.@GovernorVA instructs state's Attorney General "to look at all avenues" to help anybody detained at Dulles under new immigration order. pic.twitter.com/VEbmQT39kV

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 28, 2017

Amplifying words of one of my favorite filmmakers, Asghar Farhadi, who like too many others will be turned away from the Land of the Free. pic.twitter.com/CcskcFueuo

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) January 28, 2017

You're saying to a billion people "You're all the same. You're all dangerous to us." Children hear this. You breed evil here & everywhere.

— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) January 28, 2017

This is #Dulles right now, showing up to welcome ALL. We're #heretostay and we're not going anywhere. pic.twitter.com/GqgCwENLqW

— Elice Rojas-Cruz (@elicejosselyn) January 28, 2017

This man brought his 3 Purple Hearts with him to the rally at #Dulles. #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/KLYmdCx0ND

— Rose Jackson (@Rosejackson3) January 28, 2017

Middle East interpreters assisting the US Army for a decade at great personal risk denied access. #LeaveNoManBehindhttps://t.co/qoe6eozwXL

— Alexander Lerche (@AlexanderLerche) January 29, 2017

Trump's immigration ban sparks outcry as protesters rally at JFK and LAX airport https://t.co/wI5uZPCT5k pic.twitter.com/I3rH5y4ADY

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 29, 2017

"I don't see no riot here/ why are you in riot gear?" #jfkprotest #MuslimBan pic.twitter.com/9SNM6xqFqQ

— Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) January 29, 2017

Chicago OHare right now #muslimban pic.twitter.com/F6lU9LcvRu

— Mohamed Abdelfattah (@mfatta7) January 29, 2017

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