Rubio imposes visa restrictions on European officials who attempted to censor American free speech

"The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship," Rubio posted on X. "Today, the State Department will take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the United States. We stand ready and willing to expand this list if others do not reverse course."

Published: December 23, 2025 3:36pm

Updated: December 23, 2025 3:49pm

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stinging blow to Europe on Tuesday by imposing visa restrictions on European officials who "led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose."

"The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship," Rubio posted on X. "Today, the State Department will take steps to bar leading figures of the global censorship-industrial complex from entering the United States. We stand ready and willing to expand this list if others do not reverse course."

The order targets five people who have "advanced censorship crackdowns" on American companies and speakers. However, the secretary did not name the individuals.

Rubio said he determined that the five individuals' "entry, presence or activities" in the country could have serious foreign policy consequences for the U.S. and is thereby imposing visa restrictions on "agents of the global censorship-industrial complex," who will be barred from entering the United States. 

"President Trump has been clear that his America First foreign policy rejects violations of American sovereignty," the secretary said in a statement. "Extraterritorial overreach by foreign censors targeting American speech is no exception."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

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