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Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
The Bulletin June 5, 2025
The rundown: President Trump has reinstated and expanded a travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries, citing national security concerns following a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Get more details. Why it matters: On June 1, Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, carried out a firebombing attack at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, injuring 12 people. Soliman, who had overstayed his visa, used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower during the assault. Trump announced a reinstated ban would prohibit entry for citizens from 12 countries; Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. However, the country of origin of the attacker—Egypt—is notably absent from the list, raising questions about the ban's effectiveness and underlying motivations. The National Iranian American Council told Newsweek the move would "not make America safer." When asked why Egypt was left of the list, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told CNN that the order was being considered before the Boulder terrorist attack. Read more in-depth coverage: Trump's Travel Ban: Exceptions Travellers Need to Know TL/DR: The omission of Egypt, the home country of the Boulder attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, suggests potential inconsistencies in the policy's application. What happens now? Legal challenges to the travel ban are anticipated, with opponents likely to question its consistency and potential discriminatory impact. Deeper reading Donald Trump's Travel Ban Surprisingly Omits One Country
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
World Reacts to Trump's Latest Controversial Travel Ban
Rabat – Countries across the world have strongly reacted to President Trump's latest controversial travel ban, pointing to its severe and unwelcome international consequences. Nationals from twelve countries – including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen – face a complete travel ban following Trump's announcement. Meanwhile, citizens from seven countries, namely Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, face partial travel restrictions. The global response to the bank has largely been condemnatory, with the prevailing feeling being that the move is discriminatory and unfair. But President Trump has signaled his readiness to shrug off US and global media's critical coverage of his decision, stating: 'I must act to protect the national security and national interests of the United States and its people.' Reactions There have meanwhile been different levels of reactions from the nations that have been affected by the controversial announcement. Venezuela has hit back against Trump, stating that the US itself is a dangerous place to travel. 'Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans,' said the country's interior minister. By contrast, Somalia has pledged to work with Washington on the security issues President Trump cited as the reasons for his ban. Dahir Hassan Abdi, the Somali ambassador to the US, said: 'Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised' by the Trump ban. The President of the National Iranian American Council lamented the decision, stating that 'the impact of the ban will once again be felt by Americans who were denied the ability to see their loved ones.' The chairman of #AfghanEvac, a charity involved in getting Afghan refugees out of the country, described the ban as shameful and morally bankrupt. 'To include Afghanistan, a nation whose people stood alongside America for 20 years, is a moral disgrace,' he argued The president of Oxfam America agreed, fuming: 'This policy is not about national security, it is about sowing discord.' Another, controversial addition to the ban was Haiti, which is currently going through a period of Gang warfare, with Port-Au-Prince being one of the most dangerous places on earth. This controversial decision, which will come into effect on Monday morning, will continue to have a large impact on all the countries and people concerned. For observers, it is the latest installment in President Trump's indifference to the moral standing the US has long claimed in international politics.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Donald Trump's Travel Ban Surprisingly Omits One Country
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump has reinstated and expanded a travel ban targeting citizens from 12 countries, citing national security concerns following a recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) told Newsweek the move would "not make America safer." However, the country of origin of the attacker—Egypt—is notably absent from the list, raising questions about the ban's effectiveness and underlying motivations. Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment. President Donald Trump waves at an event held at the White House on June 4, 2025, in Washington D.C. President Donald Trump waves at an event held at the White House on June 4, 2025, in Washington It Matters The new travel restrictions, set to take effect on June 9, are part of the administration's efforts to prevent foreign terrorist threats. Yet, the omission of Egypt, the home country of the Boulder attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, suggests potential inconsistencies in the policy's application. What to Know On June 1, Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, carried out a firebombing attack at a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, injuring 12 people. Soliman, who had overstayed his visa, used Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower during the assault. In a televised address from the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump referred to the attack as evidence of the "extreme dangers" that foreign nationals who have not been properly vetted pose to the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security said Soliman had overstayed a tourist visa. Trump announced a reinstated ban would prohibit entry for citizens from 12 countries; Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Tougher restrictions, but not outright bans, would be imposed on visitors from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. There are a few exemptions, including athletes traveling for major sporting events, some dual nationals and Afghan nationals who have Special Immigrant Visas. Exemptions may also be granted on a case-by-case basis. However, despite being the origin of the Boulder attacker, Egypt is not included in the list of banned or restricted countries. This exclusion has led to criticism and questions about the criteria used to determine the targeted nations. When asked why Egypt was left of the list, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told CNN that the order was being considered before the Boulder terrorist attack. When pressed on whether the attack had sped up the process, Mullin replied, "I don't think the Boulder incident had anything to do with this moving forward because this conversation has been going on for weeks." He added that Trump only used the Boulder attack as "an example of why we need to do this." On @TheSourceCNN, Kaitlan Collins asked Sen. Markwayne Mullin about why Egypt was not included in President Trump's travel ban tonight: — David Schenkel (@David_Schenkel) June 5, 2025 During his first presidential term, Trump ordered a travel ban against people from seven Muslim-majority countries from coming to the U.S. which was dubbed by critics a "Muslim ban." Following legal challenges, the order was amended before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 although it was repealed by Trump's successor Joe Biden in 2021. In a statement to Newsweek, the NIAC said that Trump's first ban had impacted over 100,000 Iranians and visa processing had not fully recovered. NIAC president Jamal Abdi said the order will "not make America safer, but it will deeply harm the countless Americans, including in the Iranian-American community, whose loved ones will be arbitrarily denied visas or experience racial profiling and discrimination at ports of entry." Trump's order announced on Wednesday does not just target majority Muslim nations, with the president saying the list was based on visa overstay rates or political instability. Human rights groups have criticized the order, with Amnesty International USA saying it would spread "disinformation and hate." The group Human Rights First said the ban would harm refugees, asylum-seekers, and other vulnerable populations. Venezuela called the Trump administration "supremacists who think they own the world," while Somalia said it would engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised." However, Louisiana Representative Clay Higgins, a Republican, told the BBC on Thursday that Trump had a mandate from the American people to address illegal and dangerous immigration and that the U.S. had the right to control its borders. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump said the Boulder attack "underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted," adding that "we don't want them." National Iranian American Council (NIAC) President Jamal Abdi: "National origin tells us nothing about whether an individual is a terrorist threat. Yet, that is precisely what Trump's bans have been based on." Amnesty International on X, formerly Twitter: "By targeting people based on their nationality, this ban only spreads disinformation and hate." GOP Representative Clay Higgins told the BBC: "President Trump has a mandate from the American people to address illegal and dangerous immigration." What's Next Legal challenges to the travel ban are anticipated, with opponents likely to question its consistency and potential discriminatory impact. The administration may face pressure to reassess the list of targeted countries to ensure it aligns more closely with its national security objectives.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump signs new travel ban targeting 12 countries
The Trump administration announced new travel restrictions to the U.S. from 19 countries, effective June 9, reminiscent of his first-term "Muslim travel ban." The restrictions fully ban travel from 12 nations, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, while partially restricting travel from seven others like Cuba and Venezuela. Trump cited a recent Molotov cocktail attack in Colorado, allegedly by an Egyptian man who overstayed his visa, as justification for the new restrictions. Exemptions include lawful permanent residents, athletes traveling for the World Cup and Olympics, those with asylum or refugee status, and individuals with specific visas. Critics, such as the National Iranian American Council and Congressman Dan Goldman, condemn the policy as discriminatory and reminiscent of the "great replacement theory."
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Venezuela warns US is dangerous anyway in Trump travel ban retort
Venezuela has hit back over the Trump administration's travel ban by warning that the US itself is a dangerous place, while Somalia immediately pledged to work with Washington on security issues. The mixed responses came after Donald Trump signed a ban targeting 12 countries also including Afghanistan, Iran and Yemen in a revival of one of the most controversial measures from his first term. 'Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans,' Diosdado Cabello, the interior minister in Caracas, said after the announcement, warning citizens against travel there and describing the US government as fascist. 'They persecute our countrymen, our people for no reason.' Dahir Hassan Abdi, the Somali ambassador to the US, said in a statement: 'Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised.' Calls early on Thursday to the spokesperson of Myanmar's military government were not answered. The foreign ministry of Laos did not immediately respond to a request for comment, Reuters reported. There was no immediate response from Iran, but Jamal Abdi, the president of the National Iranian American Council, said: 'The impact of the ban will once again be felt by Americans who were denied the ability to see their loved ones at weddings, funerals, or the birth of a child.' The move bans all travel to the US by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Trump imposed a partial ban on travellers from seven more countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Some temporary work visas from these countries would be allowed, his administration said. The bans would go into effect on Monday 9 June, the White House said. Trump said the bans were spurred by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on a man they said was in the country illegally. Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this story
