Under the newly proposed plans by the Trump administration, all tourists wishing to enter the United States will be required to disclose their social media activity from the past five years. This initiative, spearheaded by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a branch of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), mandates that visitors provide not only their social media accounts but also a range of personal information. This includes email addresses, telephone numbers, and the names, addresses, birthdates, and birthplaces of family members, including children.
The proposed regulations were published in a recent Federal Register notice, which serves as the official publication of the US government. The notice describes these new disclosure requirements as "mandatory" for anyone entering the United States, irrespective of their nationality. This policy affects travelers from various countries, including Britain, Australia, Germany, and Japan, which typically do not require a tourist visa to visit the US.
Members of the public will have two months to comment on this proposal before it is finalized. Notably, the DHS has not responded to requests for comment from media outlets regarding this controversial plan.
This new measure could significantly impact tourism, particularly with the upcoming World Cup, which the US is co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico next year. The event is expected to attract a massive influx of soccer fans, making the new requirements a potential barrier to attendance.
Tourism to the United States has already experienced a decline during Trump’s second term, as the administration has enforced strict immigration policies. This includes recent attempts to ban all asylum claims and halt migration from over 30 countries. California tourism authorities are predicting a 9% decline in foreign visits to the state this year, while Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles reported a staggering 50% drop in foot traffic during the summer months. Similarly, Las Vegas has faced challenges due to decreased visitation, exacerbated by the popularity of mobile gambling apps.
Statistics from Canada illustrate the trend, revealing that Canadian residents making return trips to the US by car dropped by 36.9% in July 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Additionally, commercial airline travel from Canada fell by 25.8% in July year-over-year, coinciding with deteriorating relations between the two nations.
The US government has also implemented additional financial burdens on foreign tourists. A new $100 fee per person per day has been imposed for visiting national parks, such as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite, in addition to regular admission costs. Furthermore, the practice of offering free park access on Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been discontinued, now only available on Trump’s birthday.
The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on visa applications, particularly for individuals seeking to live and work in the United States. In August, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would begin scrutinizing visa applications for “anti-American” views, including those expressed on social media. Prospective foreign students are also required to unlock their social media profiles for review by US diplomats before receiving educational and exchange visas; refusal to comply is likely to be viewed as suspicious.
Recently, several high-profile foreign students have faced detention for expressing support for Palestinian causes. Additionally, the administration has instructed consular officials to deny visas to individuals who have worked in fact-checking or content moderation roles at social media companies, alleging their involvement in censorship of protected expression in the US.
Calls have also emerged from global media groups urging the administration to reconsider its decision to shorten visa lengths for foreign journalists from five years to just eight months, a move that has raised concerns about press freedom and international collaboration.