by Alex Ashman
Saturday June 7, 2025
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.”
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.