When political leaders begin to do bad things, one of their first steps is to limit the movement of people in and out of the country. They use the same excuses — security or improper foreign influence — but it’s always the same lie. And it always serves to remind us that travel is freedom. The U.S. President signed an executive action banning travel to the U.S. by people from seven predominantly Muslim nations, including refugees fleeing persecution and slaughter, as well as men and women who spent years helping the U.S. military at great threat to their own lives. It was a deeply hypocritical move by a profoundly challenged leader, both morally and ethically. Nationals of countries included on the list can’t be traced to any violent acts in the U.S. over the last 40 years. Meanwhile four predominantly Muslim countries were left off the list (Saudia Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, the UAE) if they had business interests with the president’s real estate activities, despite being tied to violence in the U.S. This last part demonstrates both the deep cynicism behind the executive action as well as a recognition of the financial importance of travel. Trump would much rather have a wealthy Saudi family visit the U.S. to shop along Rodeo Drive or Fifth Avenue than he would welcome a Syrian one fleeing genocide. It’s a selective bigotry that’s just as offensive as any other kind of bigotry, and it tells us a lot about the kind of leadership we’re dealing with. Those of us in the travel industry have to figure out how we move from here, and the biggest role we have is to fight for the right of free movement of people — ALL of us, every color, every race, every orientation — in and out of America and beyond, and the future of a connected world outside of the neo-isolationist bubbles. —Jason Clampet, Editor-in-Chief Skift