The Donald Trump administration is proposing that travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries submit up to five years of social media history before entering the United States.



<h2>Mandatory Social Media, Personal History Checks For Visa</h2>



The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the plan in the Federal Register, stating that visitors will also need to provide all phone numbers used over the past five years and email addresses from the past 10 years, reported Al Jazeera. 



&#34;Protecting the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats,&#34; the notice said, citing Executive Order 14161, signed by Trump in January 2025.



<h2>Publicly Accessible Social Media Will Be Reviewed</h2>



Travelers would submit social media handles, not passwords, allowing officials to review publicly available content. 



The rule applies to citizens from 42 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Australia, who currently travel under the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).



Experts warn the move could have wide-reaching implications. 



Caroline DeCell, senior staff attorney at Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute, said, &#34;Even travellers who post publicly on social media typically maintain some expectation of obscurity.&#34; 



She added, “It's a massive blow to First Amendment freedoms.&#34;



See Also: ‘I'm Always In A State Of Anxiety' Says Nvidia CEO As $5T Triumph Still Feels Like '30 Days From Going Out Of Business.'



<h2>Controversy Over Trump's Social Media Travel Rules</h2>



On Wednesday, Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) criticized Trump's plan on X to require Visa Waiver Program travelers to submit five years of social media history, calling it a burdensome measure that could hurt U.S. tourism and provoke reciprocal requirements from other countries.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div>
<blockquote>Trump plans to require visitors from countries on the visa waiver program to provide up to five years of their social media history. This is yet a new hassle visitors have to worry about that will hurt U.S. tourism, all because his regime doesn't want any foreigners bringing… pic.twitter.com/YeAjeoC6Qi— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) December 16, 2025</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Secretary Marco Rubio emphasized that a visa is a privilege, not a right, and that the government can both deny and revoke visas if a holder engages in inappropriate or prohibited activities.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div>
<blockquote>&#34;A visa is a visitor, it's not a right … If you have the power to deny someone a visa before they get one, you most certainly have the power to revoke it once they get one and then do something they shouldn't be doing.&#34; – @SecRubio pic.twitter.com/39yufiVn6Y— Department of State (@StateDept) December 19, 2025</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Last week, Journalist Aaron Rupar posted that when asked whether requiring five years of social media for tourist visas could reduce tourism.



Trump dismissed the concern, saying the U.S. is &#34;doing so well&#34; and stressing the need to keep &#34;the wrong people&#34; out of the country.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div>
<blockquote>Q: Are you concerned that if the proposal to review 5 years of social media to get a tourist visa is implemented that there will be a decline in tourism? TRUMP: No. We're doing so well. We want to make sure we're not letting the wrong people into our country. pic.twitter.com/Bh52ZRlHmM— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 10, 2025</blockquote>
</div></figure>



Read Next:



<ul>
<li>Trump Sets Thanksgiving Deadline As Ukraine Faces Tough Choice On Putin-Friendly Peace Deal— Zelenskyy Says ‘One Of The Heaviest Moments'</li>
</ul>



Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.



Photo courtesy: Brian Jason from Shutterstock

The Trump administration proposes that travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries submit up to five years of social media history before entering the U.S. This plan, announced by the CBP, aims to protect against national security threats. Critics argue it could impact First Amendment freedoms and U.S. tourism. Secretary Rubio supports the measure, emphasizing visa privileges. Trump dismisses concerns about tourism decline, focusing on security. The proposal affects citizens from 42 countries, including the UK, Germany, Japan, and Australia.

- The Trump administration proposes that travelers from Visa Waiver Program countries submit up to five years of social media history, along with phone numbers and email addresses.  
- This initiative, aimed at national security, has raised concerns among experts regarding First Amendment rights and the potential negative impact on U.S. tourism.  
- Critics, including Congressman Lloyd Doggett, argue that this requirement could lead to reciprocal measures from other countries and further complicates entry for travelers.

Trump Administration Proposes Five-Year Social Media Disclosure For Visa Waiver Travelers