Trump Encourages Travel to Lebanon Despite Travel Advisory

President Donald Trump has encouraged Americans to visit Lebanon, despite a travel advisory from his own administration that advises against traveling there for any reason. Following a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House, Trump announced on Truth Social that he would direct his administration to allow U.S. airlines to resume direct flights to Lebanon for the first time in over 40 years. The State Department's Level 4 travel advisory warns Americans of civil unrest, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, wrongful detention, and limited medical facilities in Lebanon. Direct flights between the U.S. and Lebanon were suspended in 1985 after the hijacking of TWA Flight 847. During their meeting, Aoun and Trump discussed stabilizing Lebanon amid ongoing conflict with Israel and Hezbollah, with Aoun seeking U.S. support for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Trump stated that the U.S. would help Lebanon significantly, while also expressing a lack of interest in immediate talks with Iran regarding the ongoing war there.