Countries all over the world are issuing US travel warnings. If there's an error or mistake on your visa you risk being detained by ICE for weeks on end or even end up in the Gulag in El Salvador.
For European visitors, they can see the fascism miles away. A lot of Europe was occupied by Hitler while the US wasn't. The extraordinary claim that Musk's salute wasn't a Nazi salute is mind boggling. Even when people have seen it side by side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Zwiv8erk0
So far, the travel warnings I've seen all specify specific groups targeted by the American government, such as LGBTQ+ people.
News of tourists getting imprisoned for weeks or longer have been all over the news, but so far Europe doesn't seem to have actually brought out a general warning for that kind of danger.
That said, the people I've spoken to (most of which aren't LGBT+) are hesitant to go to the US now. There's a stark difference between the "haha, what the fuck, US" sentiment I used to sense and the "what the fuck, US" we're getting now.
The similarity is obvious, but there's a difference between "a travel warning has been issued for minorities" and "a travel warning has been issued".
Unlike what the right-wing media may make it seem, the amount of trans/nonbinary people is absolutely minute. The warnings apply to at most a percentage of the population, and even then it only affects the people that have come out of the closet and jumped through the hoops necessary to get their passport altered.
That obviously doesn't make the political trend _right_, but the geopolitical and economic implications are very different.
These warnings don't include advice against entering the country as a tourist, despite the recent reports of tourists getting arrested and locked away at the border. Such a warning would set a much more grim tone for the future of the western bloc.
"So far, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Germany, France and the U.K. have all issued new travel guidance for those wishing to travel to the U.S."
Last I checked, Germany's advice was similar (i.e., not a general warning); and from the article, it doesn't look like Portugal's advice is a Travel Warning either. There's a difference between making information available, and providing warnings.
What changed is that they made the text clearer, that ESTA approval doesn't guarantee entry and decision is made by the border officer and adding a note that wrong information may lead to incarceration.
Those notes weren't "needed" before as that was rare, while theoretically the rules were the same, but seem to be handled stricter now.
It's absolute lunacy that western governments are giving out negative travel advice against the US at all, but I've noticed Newsweek seems to have an agenda on this topic.
Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs has this section on their "Traveling to United States" page (Google translated):
Current affairs
When traveling to the United States, it is important to note that a valid ESTA or visa does not necessarily entitle you to enter the United States. Overstaying your stay or providing incorrect information about the purpose of your stay may result in arrest or deportation.
The United States has also issued an executive order (25 STATE 11402) on February 24, 2025, according to which applicants for a US ESTA or visa must in future indicate their gender as either “male” or “female”. According to the order, applicants must indicate their gender as determined at birth in their application.
If the applicant’s current gender as recorded in their passport differs from their gender as determined at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry. It is recommended to check the entry requirements in advance with the US authorities.
There is no gender marking X in the Finnish passport. If, for example, a dual citizen has a passport with an X marking, the entry requirements can be checked in advance with the US authorities.
Political demonstrations may occur in major cities, which may turn violent. Avoid large gatherings or demonstrations.
It's mostly a footnote in the form of "contact the embassy if you're trans/non-binary". The implication seems to be that those people will need to alter their passports (again) to gain access.
Germany also added a warning that minor criminal history can be a reason for imprisonment and deportation, as well as a reminder that an American visa or ESTA document are meaningless against an unwilling border patrol agent:
Weder eine gültige ESTA-Genehmigung noch ein gültiges US-Visum begründen einen Anspruch auf Einreise in die USA. Die endgültige Entscheidung über die Einreise trifft der US-Grenzbeamte. Es empfiehlt sich, Nachweise über die Rückreise (z.B. Flugbuchung) bei der Einreise mitzuführen. Gegen dessen Entscheidung gibt es keinen Rechtsbehelf. Den deutschen Auslandsvertretungen ist es nicht möglich, auf die Rückgängigmachung einer Einreiseverweigerung hinzuwirken.
Reisende sollten ausschließlich mit einem gültigen ESTA oder Visum in die USA reisen, das dem geplanten Aufenthaltszweck entspricht. Vorstrafen in den USA, falsche Angaben zum Aufenthaltszweck oder eine auch nur geringfügige Überschreitung der Aufenthaltsdauer bei Reisen können bei Ein- bzw. Ausreise zu Festnahme, Abschiebehaft und Abschiebung führen.
Denmark has added this to their VISA page:
Når du skal søge om ESTA eller visum til USA, er der to kønsbetegnelser at vælge imellem: mand eller kvinde. Hvis du har kønsbetegnelsen X i dit pas, eller du har skiftet køn, anbefales det at kontakte den amerikanske ambassade forud for rejsen for vejledning om, hvordan du skal forholde dig.
Germany added this:
Die ESTA-Beantragung ist gebührenpflichtig (21 USD).
Reisende in die USA müssen bei ESTA- oder Visumanträgen entweder das Geschlecht „männlich“ oder „weiblich“ angeben; relevant ist hierbei der Geschlechtseintrag der antragstellenden Person zum Zeitpunkt der Geburt. Reisende, die den Geschlechtseintrag „X“ innehaben oder deren aktueller Geschlechtseintrag von ihrem Geschlechtseintrag bei Geburt abweicht, sollten vor Einreise die zuständige Auslandsvertretung der USA in Deutschland kontaktieren und die geltenden Einreisevoraussetzungen in Erfahrung zu bringen.
The Finnish travel advice has something similar:
Yhdysvallat on myös antanut 24.2.2025 toimeenpanomääräyksen (25 STATE 11402), jonka mukaan Yhdysvaltojen ESTA:a tai viisumia hakevan on jatkossa ilmoitettava sukupuolekseen joko ”mies” tai ”nainen”. Määräyksen mukaan hakijan on hakemuksessa ilmoitettava syntymähetkellä vahvistettu sukupuolensa.
Jos hakijan nykyinen passiin merkitty sukupuoli poikkeaa hänen syntymässä vahvistetusta sukupuolestaan, Yhdysvaltojen viranomaiset voivat evätä luvan maahantuloon. Maahantulon edellytykset on suositeltavaa varmistaa etukäteen Yhdysvaltain viranomaisilta.
Suomen passissa ei ole sukupuolimerkintää X. Jos esim. kaksoiskansalaisella on passi, jossa X-merkintä on, voi maahantulon edellytykset tarkistaa etukäteen Yhdysvaltain viranomaisilta.
For European visitors, they can see the fascism miles away. A lot of Europe was occupied by Hitler while the US wasn't. The extraordinary claim that Musk's salute wasn't a Nazi salute is mind boggling. Even when people have seen it side by side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Zwiv8erk0