Trump ban '˜would be propaganda coup for IS'

She told MPs the US President’s measure did not amount to a “Muslim ban” but she had told her American counterpart John Kelly she disagreed with it.

She said IS “will use any opportunity they can to make difficulties, to create the environment they want to radicalise people, to bring them over to their side. So it is a propaganda opportunity for them, potentially”.

Meanwhile it has been confirmed that MPs will next month debate whether Mr Trump should make a state visit to Britain after a petition calling for the trip to be downgraded gained the support of more than 1.6 million people.

The Westminster Hall debate on February 20 will also consider a rival petition in support of the controversial American leader’s state visit, which has more than 114,000 signatures.

Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms Rudd said the UK authorities would continue to monitor social media and internet sites in an effort to take down IS propaganda.

The seven countries covered by Mr Trump’s travel ban are Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The Home Secretary said: “It is not a Muslim ban, but people draw their own conclusions about the countries that are picked off.”

Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper said the way the measure had been drawn up “does make it look an awful lot like a Muslim ban” and asked Ms Rudd if she was worried about its impact.

The Home Secretary said: “I think the important thing is for this Government to state that we disagree with the ban and we have said that it is divisive, it is wrong. I will continue to say that.”

She assured MPs that “this will never be our policy, we have a completely different approach”.

Ms Rudd said she had made clear to homeland security secretary Mr Kelly the “difficulties and the response that was taking place in London and across the country”.

Ms Rudd defended the decision to honour Mr Trump with a state visit.

“It is also honouring the country. The US is our strongest ally,” she said.

Labour MP Chuka Umunna challenged her, saying: “What message do you think it gives this country’s three million Muslims when you invite a known Islamophobe and honour him in the way that you are intending to do?”

The Home Secretary responded: “I think we can hold two things in our head, which is to say to the president of the US ‘We find this policy divisive and wrong’ and still to respect the president of the United States and want to engage with him in the way we would engage with world leaders to try to promote the UK’s interests.”

Downing Street rejected claims the Queen has been put in a difficult position due to the invitation and insisted the state visit would go ahead this year.

Dozens of opposition MPs have signed a motion calling for Mr Trump to be denied the opportunity of addressing both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall or any other part of the historic building.

The Prime Minister’s spokeswoman said: “On the programme for the state visit, that will all need to be worked out in due course, the elements of that, and to look at it all - it’s months away, so there will be a discussion for that.”

Asked if Mrs May would raise issues around America’s immigration policy with Mr Trump in person, the Prime Minister’s spokeswoman said: “You have already seen the action that was taken at the weekend.

“We have made clear that we disagree, secondly, obviously, we have had engagement with Government ministers and the Trump team in the US administration on this.”

The PM’s spokeswoman said the visit was about the special relationship between the UK and US rather than an opportunity to pave the way for a post-Brexit trade deal.