Nigerian journalist misleads on Trump’s ability to travel internationally

As President Donald Trump was sworn into bureau connected Jan. 20, African nations watched the inauguration ceremonial with the anticipation that helium would “focus much connected partnerships with African countries."

But immoderate successful Africa stay critical, focusing connected the president’s quality to question internationally.

On Jan. 10, Trump was formally convicted of a felony by a New York tribunal aft helium was recovered blameworthy connected 34 felony counts of falsifying concern records.

Trump denies the accusations, dubbing them arsenic “political witch-hunt” and claiming innocence.

Yet immoderate assertion specified a condemnation could perchance interaction the president’s overseas trips.

Soon aft Trump was sworn in, Dr. Kemi Lawrence, a Nigerian journalist, alleged that Trump had lone 1 overseas question option, which is visiting Nigeria.

In a video posted connected her TikTok account, Lawrence claimed: “President Trump is simply a convicted felon and helium cannot participate UAE, UK, Canada, South Africa, Donald Trump cannot participate similar 42 countries.”

The assertion is misleading.

Canada is among dozens of countries to garbage introduction to convicted felons. But experts accidental the Canadian laws tin inactive assistance a felon entry.

A Canadian website with guidance for Americans with transgression records who privation to participate the state says convicted felons tin sometimes bash truthful successful 1 of 2 ways:

With a valid reason, you tin petition from Canadian migration officials a temporary nonmigratory permit for up to 3 years.

A 2nd enactment is to petition "Criminal Rehabilitation, which is Canada's imperishable solution for criminally inadmissible overseas nationals."

Canada, which assumed the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven (G7) nations connected Jan. 1, volition big the G7 acme successful Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, 2025.

Trump is among the satellite leaders expected to be the summit.
On Jan. 20, Canadian broadcaster CBC reported that “it mightiness autumn connected the migration curate to contented a peculiar visa for him to participate the country.”

More than 38 countries person laws that let them to garbage a felon introduction into their territories, according to Gregory Germain, a prof astatine the New York-based Syracuse University College of Law.

Yet “it is wholly up to each state whether they volition let him to sojourn their country,” Germain told Polygraph successful an interview. “Countries that prohibit convicted felons from visiting, oregon necessitate peculiar support to visit, volition person to determine whether to fto him into their country.”

South Africa is 1 of these 38 countries that has a instrumentality barring introduction for convicted felons.

However, connected Nov. 8, 3 days aft Trump won the U.S. statesmanlike elections, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa congratulated Trump by telephone.

The South African president shared connected X portion of his discussion adding, “We besides look guardant to hosting President-Elect Trump during the #G20 Heads of State Summit adjacent year.’’

Lawrence besides claimed Trump "cannot participate the UK," which is untrue.

On Dec. 27, Britain’s Telegraph reported that “Number 10 [Downing Street, authoritative residence of Britain’s premier minister] and the Foreign Office are preparing to connection the incoming U.S. president an invitation erstwhile helium is backmost successful the White House, with the backing of Buckingham Palace.”

“U.S. President-elect Donald Trump could go the archetypal elected person successful modern past to beryllium hosted for two authorities visits by the British royal family.”

The United Arab Emirates has besides expressed involvement to enactment with Trump.

Trump volition not beryllium the archetypal President to question connected a peculiar visa owed to a transgression record.

In 2001, erstwhile President George W. Bush had to use for a special waiver to participate Canada during the 3rd Summit of Americas held successful Quebec owed to a 1976 misdemeanor condemnation for drunk driving.

During his erstwhile administration, Trump’s first overseas trip was to Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian territories, Brussels, the Vatican and Sicily.

His second overseas trip was to Poland successful June 2017, which helium concluded by attending the G20 Summit successful Germany.