State Department tells Americans abroad to come home IMMEDIATELY

President Donald Trump said Thursday he could not confirm a report that the United States planned to warn Americans overseas to come back or shelter in place.  

But he noted he had a meeting later with State Department officials on the matter. 

‘We haven’t had the meeting yet,’ Trump told reporters at a press conference at the White House.

Tourists stranded in Morocco try to get a flight out

Politico reported the State Department was preparing to issue its most severe warning – a Level 4 travel advisory – to Americans abroad to shelter in place given the coronavirus threat.

Additionally, Americans would be warned not to travel overseas. 

Currently Americans are encouraged to rethink plans to travel abroad. 

The warning would come amid reports of Americans trapped overseas, unable to get home because of travel restrictions issued in the wake of the coronavirus. 

President Trump said Thursday he was aware of efforts to help a group of Americans stuck in Peru, where President Martin Vizcarra closed the borders in an effort to contain the coronavirus.

But Trump said there were no planes for an airlift despite reports of Americans trapped in various countries that have shut down their borders in an effort to contain the disease. 

‘Not evacuation, we are trying to get them out. They got caught,’ he said, adding the help would come ‘ probably from the military.’

There have been many reports of Americans stranded because of the short amount of notice given of borders closing and then being unable to get help from the State Department in returning home.

The State Department has said it is aiding citizens abroad.

‘We are aware the governments of several countries have announced suspension of air travel,’ the department told The New York Times. ‘We are considering all options to assist U.S. citizens in these countries and are continuously assessing travel conditions in all areas affected by COVID-19. We will continue to update our travel advisories and safety information for U.S. travelers as situations evolve.’ 

Nine Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday to express their ‘urgent concern’ for U.S. citizens stranded overseas. 

‘We write to express our urgent concerns regarding the support being provided to citizens overseas, including those seeking to return to the United States, as the spread of coronavirus continues to impose significant challenges for governments and communities worldwide,’ they wrote.  

Many Americans trapped abroad have been unable to get a flight to the United States

Pompeo told reporters Tuesday that he encourages Americans to ‘make good decisions’ with their travel plans but made no mention of plans to help those stranded overseas. 

‘You see our travel advisories as they go out, trying to make sure they’re in step with the latest data sets we have in each – not only in each country, but in every province, county, township,’ he said at a State Department briefing. ‘So we’re articulating them properly so that Americans make good decisions about whether they should or should not travel.’