Trump targets nations holding Americans hostage with new executive order
“Anyone Who Uses an American as a Bargaining Chip Will Pay the Price” – Trump Administration
Elohim Nyame 
US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order empowering Washington to take punitive action against countries that wrongfully detain or hold American nationals hostage.
The order, announced on Monday, gives the US Department of State authority to impose severe consequences, including economic sanctions, visa bans, aid restrictions, and travel limitations for US passport holders travelling to offending nations.
“Anyone who uses an American as a bargaining chip will pay the price,” the State Department declared, stressing that the policy places American citizens’ safety at the centre of US foreign relations.
The move follows growing concerns over the rising number of Americans held abroad. According to the Foley Foundation, at least 54 Americans were detained or taken hostage in 17 countries in 2024 alone, highlighting what Washington describes as a dangerous trend of governments and non-state actors exploiting US nationals for leverage.
President Trump framed the executive order as a strong deterrent, warning that the US will not tolerate the use of its citizens in international bargaining. The order is expected to complicate relations with certain countries accused of wrongful detentions, but US officials say the priority remains clear: protecting its citizens.
This latest directive builds on Washington’s broader policy of hostage recovery and wrongful detention response, reinforcing its commitment to ensuring Americans abroad are not used as pawns in geopolitical disputes.
