WHAT WAS CLAIMED
The US is banning Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese from entering.
OUR VERDICT
False. The US has sanctioned a UN expert on Palestinian rights with the same surname.
AAP FACTCHECK - Social media posts claiming Anthony Albanese will be banned from entering the US have got the wrong Albanese.
The US has not banned Australia's prime minister; it has instead sanctioned the UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese.
Posts appeared on Facebook after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the US had sanctioned Ms Albanese, which could include an entry ban, over her criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.
"BREAKING NEWS: Albanese to be BANNED from entering the USA! Sources say it's happening. Watch this space!", one post reads.
It includes a photo collage featuring Mr Albanese, Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd, and President Donald Trump.
The earliest instance of the claim AAP FactCheck could find was a post on X from July 10, 2025.
While some, including high-profile American Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, have called for Mr Albanese to be banned from entering the US while criticising his response to anti-Semitic incidents and attacks in Australia, the US government has not taken such action.
The US Embassy in Canberra confirmed there were no sanctions against the Australian PM.
"No, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not been banned from the United States", an embassy spokesperson told AAP FactCheck.
The US Department of State website said the sanctions against Ms Albanese were because she allegedly "directly engaged with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in efforts to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute nationals of the United States or Israel" as part of what it claims is "illegitimate ICC overreach and abuse of power".
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