With the President back from his trip to Asia, the White House wasted no time on Monday in publicly rejecting a plan approved last week by the House that would set up more hurdles for Syrian refugees trying to enter the United States, as officials say it's not the answer to fighting the Islamic State.

"I think we've made a pretty strong case about why what Congress did is not going to improve our national security," said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

At a briefing for reporters, Earnest labeled the move a "piece of political rhetoric," saying, "it won't do anything to increase the national security of the United States.

The GOP plan made it through the U.S. House last week with the support of 47 Democrats, giving supporters a veto-proof margin.

But Democrats in the Senate have made clear they will stop the plan, as the White House again ramped up its social media arguments against the GOP measure.

Votes in the Senate related to the Syrian refugee bill will not happen this week, as lawmakers are gone for a Thanksgiving break.