The new US President said Europe had made a tremendous mistake by admitting millions of refugees from Syria and other Middle Eastern trouble spots, and added "I don't want that to happen here”.

"The Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, is directed within 90 days of the date of this order to produce a plan to provide safe areas in Syria and in the surrounding region in which Syrian nationals displaced from their homeland can await firm settlement, such as repatriation or potential third-country resettlement," the draft order said.