Two days after expressly ruling out a travel ban to and from Ebola-stricken countries, White House press secretary Josh Earnest admitted such a ban is now “on the table.”
In a mirror image of his statement on Wednesday — when he twice said a ban is “not on the table” — on Friday Earnest signaled that the Obama administration is now more open to restricting commercial flights from West Africa.
“It’s an option that will continue to be on the table,” he said, “but it’s one that is not being considered right now.” The press secretary explained that the White House would rather travelers go through the “proper channels” than spread the virus by traveling to the United States or elsewhere under the radar.
On Thursday, President Obama said he has “no philosophical objection, necessarily, to a travel ban” — the strongest hint, to date, that some form of travel restrictions may eventually be implemented.
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