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In response to the European Travel Information and Authorization System’s (ETIAS) new rules about U.S. citizens needing European visas, President Trump vowed to end this if elected into the White House.
“I WILL, AS PRESIDENT, NOT ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN. IT WILL END VERY QUICKLY!!!”
President Trump on Truth Social about European visas for U.S. citizens
Currently, the U.S. is one of the 60 countries exempt from needing a visa to visit Europe, that is, until 2024.
According to the Washington Post, The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) recently announced that U.S. citizens would need to apply for a short-term stay online visa and pay an application fee of around $8. The final cost has yet to be announced.
The release of this rule has created a stir from many, including Peter Greenberg, a CBS News travel editor. The New York Post reported Greenberg thought about the new process, “It won’t be complicated. It’s just an annoyance,”
President Trump has also expressed his outrage at the announcement. He wrote on Truth Social, “Wow! “U.S. CITIZENS WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A VISA TO TRAVEL TO EUROPE STARTING IN 2024.” Think of this. We give them everything, including military protection and trade, and now we have to pay them to go there.”
The other potential problem that U.S. travelers may face is being denied entry into European countries. Having a visa doesn’t automatically guarantee you entry into the country. That’s up to the border guard.
The New York Post reported what Greenberg said about the visa potentially being problematic for U.S. travelers, “Most Americans, in fact, all Americans, are not used to doing this to go to Europe so there’s going to be lots of surprises at boarding gates with people being denied boarding over the first couple of weeks if this goes into effect.”
President Trump vows that if he gets reelected, he will put a stop to this visa. While it is still early in the polls, President Trump is marching ahead in the state of Iowa.
