Trump signs executive order to blacklist countries that illegally detain Americans

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday establishing a "state sponsor of wrongful detention" designation.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday establishing a "state sponsor of wrongful detention" designation, a move designed to put pressure on countries that illegally detain Americans.

The executive order will give Secretary of State Marco Rubio the ability to impose sanctions on designated countries or order other punishments, according to a senior administration official.

“We are drawing a very clear delineation today, a line in the sand," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to brief reporters ahead of the announcement. "You will not use Americans as bargaining chips.”

The official declined to say how quickly the Trump administration would issue sanctions or visa restrictions against those offending countries. The details on the number and locations of Americans being held abroad are not publicized by the U.S. government. But according to the Foley Foundation’s 2024 report, the total number of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained was at least 54 across 17 countries, including Iran, China, Russia, North Korea and Venezuela.

Paul Whelan, who was wrongfully held in Russia for more than five years before being released in 2024, said the executive order is “a good start and would be a powerful deterrent if truly enforced against rogue regimes such as China and Russia.”