WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order authorizing punishments for countries that wrongfully detain American citizens, a move prompted by a series of high-profile cases involving Americans imprisoned abroad. Teh order, previewed Thursday, aims to provide the U.S. government with greater leverage to secure the release of citizens held on dubious charges or used as political bargaining chips.
The directive comes amid growing bipartisan concern over “hostage diplomacy,” a tactic employed by nations to detain Americans to gain concessions from the United States. Recent cases, including those of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Marine veteran Paul Whelan, WNBA star Brittney Griner, and schoolteacher Marc Fogel, have highlighted the vulnerability of Americans traveling or living abroad and fueled demands for a stronger U.S. response. These individuals were all released in prisoner swaps involving the U.S. exchanging individuals convicted of crimes for their freedom – Gershkovich and Whelan in a complex 2024 trade involving a convicted murderer returned to Russia by Germany, Griner for russian arms dealer Viktor Bout in 2022, and Fogel for a Russian crypto fraudster earlier this year.Iran and Venezuela have also participated in similar exchanges with the U.S. in recent years.According to sources familiar with the planned order, the punishments could include sanctions, travel restrictions, and asset freezes targeting individuals and entities within the offending countries.The executive order is expected to direct relevant agencies, such as the Treasury and State Departments, to develop a framework for implementing these measures and identifying countries that engage in wrongful detention.
While details remain forthcoming, the initiative is intended to deter future detentions by raising the cost for nations that employ such tactics. Supporters argue that a credible threat of consequences will compel governments to respect the rights of American citizens and refrain from using them as pawns in geopolitical disputes. The effectiveness of the order will depend on its implementation and the willingness of the U.S.government to consistently enforce its provisions.
