Fact Check: President Donald Trump is considering expanding the travel ban to include an additional 36 countries, according to a report from The Washington Post published in October 2023.

Published June 15, 2025

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# Fact Check: "President Donald Trump is considering expanding the travel ban to include an additional 36 countries, according to a report from The Wa...

Fact Check: "President Donald Trump is considering expanding the travel ban to include an additional 36 countries, according to a report from The Washington Post published in October 2023."

What We Know

According to a report from The Washington Post, the Trump administration is indeed considering a significant expansion of its travel ban to include an additional 36 countries. This information comes from a State Department memo that outlines the administration's intentions and the criteria that these countries must meet to avoid restrictions. The memo indicates that the countries under consideration include 25 African nations, as well as nations from the Caribbean, Central Asia, and several Pacific Island nations. The memo stipulates that these countries have 60 days to comply with new benchmarks set by the State Department or face visa bans or other restrictions.

The countries listed in the memo include notable U.S. partners such as Egypt and Djibouti, as well as others like Angola, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. The memo cites various reasons for the proposed restrictions, including issues related to identity document reliability, government fraud, and visa overstays by citizens of these nations (The Washington Post).

Analysis

The claim regarding President Trump's consideration of expanding the travel ban is supported by credible reporting from The Washington Post. The memo referenced in the article provides specific details about the countries involved and the criteria for potential restrictions, which adds a layer of reliability to the information. The source is a well-established news organization known for its investigative journalism and fact-checking standards.

However, it is important to note that the White House and the State Department have not provided extensive public commentary on this internal deliberation, which leaves some uncertainty regarding the final decision and implementation timeline. Critics of the Trump administration have previously labeled such travel bans as xenophobic, particularly given the historical context of targeting predominantly Muslim-majority countries during his first term (The Washington Post). This context may influence public perception and the framing of the travel ban expansion.

While the memo's details are alarming to many, the actual implementation of such a ban remains contingent on the compliance of the listed countries with the State Department's requirements. This introduces an element of unpredictability, as the situation could evolve based on diplomatic negotiations and responses from the affected nations.

Conclusion

The claim that President Donald Trump is considering expanding the travel ban to include an additional 36 countries is True. The evidence from a credible source, The Washington Post, confirms that the administration is actively reviewing this expansion based on specific criteria outlined in an internal memo. While the potential implications of this expansion are significant, the final outcome will depend on the responses from the countries involved and the administration's subsequent actions.

Sources

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