Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes

Official account of the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL). TOU: RT ≠ Endorsement

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Indiana's elected officials answer to Hoosiers. No foreign government gets to dictate how Americans conduct their lawful business.

[Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers @UnderSecPD]

American elected officials answer to their constituents, not the Chinese Communist Party. That includes Indiana's State Treasurer. Beijing has no business trying to dictate how Americans conduct their lawful affairs.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

https://t.co/aJcuj8uZ82

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Scam centers rely on trafficked laborers to fuel their criminal operations. Today’s sanctions build on 200+ prior designations-- advancing justice for all victims, including defrauded Americans.

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

The U.S. is sanctioning 4 individuals and 41 entities linked to the Cambodia-based Prince Group TCO, plus a Malaysian national who managed a Madagascar-based scam network. The Trump Administration will continue to expose, sanction, and dismantle the criminal networks that prey on Americans.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

https://t.co/Yz7jLlzWSF

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

We will not allow American workers to face unfair competition from companies using forced labor. The United States has added three companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Osema Almasri Habeesh Najeem committed gross violations of human rights, including the persecution of Christians. Today, the U.S. government is taking action.

[Secretary Marco Rubio @SecRubio]

Today I am designating former Libyan judicial police official Osema Almasri Habeesh Najeem for his role in the torture and cruel, inhumane, and degrading treatment of detainees. The Trump Administration will not tolerate violence and abuse against Christians or members of other religious minority groups.

[U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania @USAmbTanzania]

Today, the U.S. Embassy community joined me to honor the memory of all those who lost their lives in the violence surrounding Tanzania’s October 2025 general elections. We remember them, and the families who still grieve and seek answers. As I said to the U.S. Senate during my confirmation hearing, this will not be swept under the rug.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

American industry is back and stronger than ever, thanks to @POTUS. This week I toured Hanwha’s Philly Shipyard and met America’s next generation of shipbuilders. @DelawareCCC and @Hanwha are training Americans through an innovative apprenticeship program ��� creating new opportunities for American workers in this vital tradecraft. #USWorkersFirst

[Department of State @StateDept]

We will continue to lead with strength to protect religious liberty around the world.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Today, we mark the anniversary of the International Religious Freedom Act. As President Trump has said, the United States was built on the idea that all human beings have a God-given right to practice their faith according to their conscience. We will always defend the right of every person to practice their faith without fear.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Heartbreaking news of a horrific attack on a funeral service at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Karak. We offer prayers for families of victims and those injured, the Kingdom of Jordan, and the Christian community there.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

My thoughts are with the Tibetan people following the devastating earthquake in Nagqu. We mourn those who lost their lives and stand with families facing injury, displacement, and uncertainty. It is essential that assistance reach all affected communities quickly.

[U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue @USAmbChina]

We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake in Tibet. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those affected. We wish the injured a swift recovery and hope rescue efforts reach everyone in need.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

We’re proud to work with Argentina on our newest Child Protection Compact. Child trafficking is a heinous crime, and this program is a mutually beneficial way to strengthen law enforcement and victim protection with a key Latin American partner.

[Juan Pablo Segura @WHAAsstSecty]

La trata de menoreses un delito sin fronteras, y proteger a los niños es una prioridad que compartimos con Argentina. Hoy, el @DeputySecState Landau y elministro de Justicia @juanbmahiques firmaron el Pacto de Protección para la Infancia entre Estados Unidos y Argentina. Esta subvención al @NCMEC respaldará nuestro objetivo común de proteger a los niños mediante el fortalecimiento de la labor de las fuerzas de seguridad y la protección de las víctimas.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Thank you to the many faith leaders who warmly welcomed me and Ambassador Burch to Jerusalem, including Patriarch Theofilos III, Cardinal Pizzaballa, Armenian Orthodox Patriarch Nourhan Manougian, and Fr. Francesco Ielpo. Grateful for the many ways they serve their communities in Jerusalem and throughout the region.

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

On the Five-Year Anniversary of the Unjust Detention of U.S. Embassy Sana’a Staff
https://t.co/h1NpyRJYxK

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

The Kingdom of Jordan contains amazing historical Christian sites. This week I visited several across Jordan, including Madaba (known as the City of Mosaics), Makawir (believed to be the site of John the Baptist’s imprisonment and beheading), and Bethany Beyond the Jordan (where Jesus was baptized) — all powerful reminders of the importance of preserving religious history. Thank you Dr. Emad Hijazeen of @MOTA_Jordan and to the many church leaders across denominations for their generous hospitality.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

It was my honor to meet with Archbishop Christophoros while in Jordan.  Thank you for the gracious and warm reception, and productive conversation.

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

Rosario Murillo and Daniel Ortega’s rejection of Ambassador-designate Natasha Franceschi further isolates Nicaragua. While we remain committed to open diplomatic channels and to the Nicaraguan people's aspirations for democracy, they continue to slam the door on us and the future Nicaraguans deserve.

[Assistant Secretary Riley Barnes @StateDRL]

Ambassador Thornhill, welcome to the team. I’m proud to have such a dedicated leader join us as Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Human trafficking is a grave human rights issue and a transnational crime exploiting men, women, and children for profit. We will continue to go after traffickers, protect survivors, and deliver justice for the American people.

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

The Trump Administration calls on all governments to do their part to punish traffickers and protect their citizens and communities. Read the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report: https://t.co/SVZmOGqwG8