President Donald Trump has once again made it clear that protecting American lives comes before political correctness, expanding his travel ban to include additional countries and travelers carrying documents from the Palestinian Authority amid a surge of terror attacks worldwide.
Following earlier restrictions imposed in June on countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and others — along with heightened limits on visitors from nations such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Sierra Leone — President Trump moved Tuesday to expand the ban further. The new additions include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria. Travelers holding Palestinian Authority documents are now also barred from entry.
The reasoning behind the decision was stated plainly in the president’s proclamation. The United States, it said, must exercise “extreme vigilance” during visa and immigration processes to ensure foreign nationals entering the country do not intend to harm Americans or threaten national interests. In other words, a country has the right to decide who comes in — a radical concept to some, apparently.
The proclamation goes further, stating that the U.S. government must ensure admitted aliens do not undermine American culture, government, institutions, or founding principles, nor advocate for or support foreign terrorist organizations. That’s not controversial — that’s common sense.
The timing of the expansion comes as the world has witnessed a disturbing wave of terror attacks. Most recently, in Sydney, Australia, an ISIS-inspired father-and-son duo opened fire on Jewish community members celebrating Hanukkah on a beach, killing 15 people. That attack alone underscores why “vigilance” isn’t just a buzzword.
Just days earlier, two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter — all Americans — were killed in Syria by ISIS. And last month, an Afghan national who entered the United States in 2021 under President Joe Biden’s “Operation Allies Welcome” allegedly shot two National Guardsmen deployed to Washington, D.C. as part of the Trump administration’s crime crackdown. One of those soldiers, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, just 20 years old, tragically died from her injuries. Another, Andrew Wolfe, is still recovering.
These are not abstract policy debates. These are real consequences.
While critics will undoubtedly clutch their pearls and scream about optics, President Trump is focused on outcomes — specifically, preventing terror from reaching American soil. His message is clear: the safety of U.S. citizens is non-negotiable.
At a time when too many leaders prefer slogans over security, this move sends a reassuring signal to Americans who expect their government to act decisively. Strong borders, serious screening, and unapologetic defense of national interests work. And once again, President Trump is proving that leadership means putting Americans first — and keeping them safe.
