Donald Trump Calls for Expanding Travel Ban as Biden Prepares to Visit Israel to Show Support for US Ally

Former President Donald Trump on Monday called for barring potential refugees from Gaza from entering the U.S., promising to “expand” his travel ban that President Joe Biden’s administration rescinded in 2021. Trump said he had previously banned refugees from Syria, Somalia, and other “very dangerous places” all over the world.

In response, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that President Joe Biden will travel to Israel on Wednesday to show support for the U.S. ally as concerns increase that the raging Israel-Hamas war could expand into a larger regional conflict.

The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is growing more dire as Israel prepares for a possible ground attack on the 141-square-mile (365-square-kilometer) territory to root out Hamas militants responsible for what U.S. and Israeli officials say was the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.

Biden’s administration has pledged military support, sending U.S. carriers and other military assets to the region. The president has also authorized $735 million in emergency funding to help Israel defend itself against Hamas rocket attacks.

Trump’s call to expand the travel ban comes as Biden works to restore the U.S.’s relationship with the Middle East and rebuild its ties with allies in the region. The president has also promised to work with the United Nations and other international organizations to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.