White House spokesperson Kush Desai denied the administration refused to accept Ebola-exposed Americans, calling the Washington Post "no longer worth the paper it's printed on." He praised the German hospital treating one of the patients, saying the top priority is health and safety — but press secretary Karine Pillai dodged explaining why the US didn't use its own specialized Ebola facilities.

Pillai avoided questions about why Germany and the Czech Republic — neither known for Ebola expertise — were chosen for care. The administration blamed rapid conditions on the ground for the decision. Meanwhile, the US imposed travel restrictions on arrivals from the DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, while non-US passport holders barred if they'd been in those countries within 21 days.

Africa CDC director general Jean Kaseya pushed back, stating that travel restrictions and border closures create fear, damage economies, and discourage transparency during outbreaks. She argued the fastest path to protecting all countries is supporting outbreak control at its source through partnership and science rather than relying on borders alone.