WASHINGTON — A threat President Donald Trump likely used in his decades as a businessman — “See you in court” — is now being aimed at the winning side of a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision against reinstating his refugee and immigration order.

Trump said he did not believe the unanimous decision undercut his presidency. The San Francisco-based appeals court declined Thursday to block a lower-court ruling that suspended the executive order preventing travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the U.S.

In a brief, impromptu appearance in the West Wing after the 3-0 decision by a federal appellate court panel came down, Trump did not specify what his administration’s next legal steps would be. He said he had not yet conferred with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was sworn into office earlier in the day.

Trump stood by his argument that national security hung in the balance, first in an all-caps Tweet shortly after the ruling: “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE!” His West Wing comments carried an air of confidence: “We have a situation where the security of our country is at stake and it’s a very, very serious situation, so we look forward ... to seeing them in court.” He added: “We’re going to win the case.”

The Justice Department said it was “reviewing the decision and considering its options.” It could appeal the judge’s restraining order to the U.S. Supreme Court or it could attempt to make the case for the travel ban in the district court.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway suggested the next step would be to argue the merits of the executive order.

“The statute provides a president ... with great latitude and authority to protect the citizens and to protect the nation’s national security,” Conway said. “This was not argued on the merits. Now that we’ll have an opportunity to argue on the merits we look forward to doing that. We look forward to prevailing.”

The ruling represented a setback for Trump’s administration and the second legal defeat for the new president in the past week. Trump’s decision to sign the executive order late last month has sparked protests at airports around the world as authorities barred scores of travelers from entering the country amid confusion over how to implement the details.

The appellate decision brushed aside arguments by the Justice Department that the president has the constitutional power to restrict entry to the United States and that the courts cannot second-guess his determination that such a step was needed to prevent terrorism.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted Thursday that Trump “ought to see the writing on the wall” and abandon the proposal. The New York Democrat called on the president to “roll up his sleeves” and come up with “a real, bipartisan plan to keep us safe.”

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California promised, “Democrats will continue to press for President Trump’s dangerous and unconstitutional ban to be withdrawn.” And Trump’s former presidential rival Hillary Clinton offered a terse response on Twitter, noting the unanimous vote: “3-0.”

Congress’ Republican leaders, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, declined to comment.

U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued the temporary restraining order halting the ban after Washington state and Minnesota sued, leading to the federal government’s appeal.

The Trump administration has said the seven nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — have raised terrorism concerns. The states have argued that the executive order unconstitutionally blocked entry based on religion.