The Trump administration is cracking down on visas for speakers set to appear at an upcoming Detroit conference, aiming to block those it labels as Palestinian terrorists, as the Washington Free Beacon reports.
The People's Conference for Palestine, set for Aug. 29-31, 2025, in Detroit, has drawn scrutiny for featuring speakers with alleged ties to terrorism, prompting the administration to place international attendees on a visa "look out" list.
A senior State Department official revealed that nearly 40 speakers are under review, with some flagged for their history of imprisonment in Israel for conspiring to kill Jews. "Given the public invite lists seem to include a number of terrorist sympathizers, we are going through and ensuring all international speakers slated to attend the conference are being placed on a 'look out' status," the official stated. This move signals a no-nonsense approach to national security, unlike the open-door policies of past administrations.
Hussam Shaheen, a slated speaker, served 27 years in prison for attempted murder and conspiracy before his release in February 2025 as part of a hostage exchange. His presence at the conference raises red flags about the event’s true agenda. The administration’s vigilance here is a refreshing departure from the left’s tendency to downplay such histories.
Omar Assaf, another speaker, spent eight years in jail for his role in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a group tied to the Palestine Liberation Organization. His inclusion suggests the conference is less about peace and more about platforming radical voices. This isn’t the “diversity of thought” progressives love to preach about -- it’s a security risk.
Lama Ghosheh, a Palestinian journalist, was sentenced in 2023 to three years for inciting violence and praising terrorism in the West Bank and Gaza. Her scheduled appearance further fuels concerns about the conference’s motives. The Trump team’s proactive stance contrasts sharply with the woke crowd’s habit of excusing such rhetoric as “free speech.”
Mosab Abu Toha, a Gaza-based poet and 2025 Pulitzer Prize winner, is also set to speak, despite posting inflammatory anti-Israel content online. “How on earth is this girl called a hostage?” Abu Toha wrote, questioning the status of a U.K.-Israeli soldier detained by Hamas. His remarks, dripping with disdain, expose the kind of revisionism the left often ignores.
Abu Toha doubled down, calling the soldier a “killer” and denying Palestinian rocket attacks on a Gaza hospital. Free Beacon editor Eliana Johnson flagged these comments to the Pulitzer board, only to be accused of breaching confidentiality. The board’s deflection reeks of the elite’s allergy to accountability.
Linda Sarsour, another scheduled speaker, has equated Zionism with “white supremacy in America” and openly endorsed terrorism. Her involvement underscores the conference’s radical bent, which the Trump administration rightly refuses to indulge. This isn’t about silencing dissent -- it’s about stopping those who glorify violence.
Mahmoud Khalil, an Algerian national, was detained for his role in violent anti-Israel protests at Columbia University but was released in June. His presence at the conference ties it to the chaotic campus demonstrations that have plagued American universities. The administration’s focus on such figures cuts through the progressive fog that paints these protests as harmless.
Hatem Bazian, a UC Berkeley professor linked to the Students for Justice in Palestine, will also speak, bringing his group’s history of anti-Semitic campus actions to the stage. “Israel is a creation of Western powers,” Bazian has claimed, peddling a narrative that fuels division. The Trump team’s visa crackdown is a direct rebuke to such academic radicalism.
The conference is backed by groups like the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, known for their roles in pro-Hamas campus activism. Their sponsorship suggests an agenda far removed from the “liberation” they claim to champion. It’s a wake-up call the left would rather sleep through.
The event’s plenary sessions will push for a global embargo on weapons sales to Israel, with one panel discussing a “people’s arms embargo.” “The Israel arms embargo panel will bring together speakers to discuss the momentum behind grassroots campaigns,” the conference description boasts. This isn’t diplomacy -- it’s a call to undermine a key U.S. ally.
Another session aims to address “Zionism, imperialism, and the shifting battlefield,” framing Israel as a villain in a global conspiracy. “By outlining the trajectory and agendas driving two years of Zionist and US-led imperialist genocide,” the session description reads, revealing its blatant bias. The Trump administration’s visa blocks are a justified response to this inflammatory rhetoric.
With Gaza as its rallying cry, the conference claims to unite North Americans for Palestinian liberation, but its speaker lineup and agenda suggest otherwise. “With Gaza as our guide, people from across North America will come together,” an advertisement declares, masking a platform for extremism. The Trump administration’s decisive action ensures America doesn’t become a stage for such dangerous ideologies.
