President Joe Biden’s decision to impose additional air travel restrictions on South Africa and seven other countries in response to a new COVID-19 strain is being contrasted with his response to similar policies under former President Donald Trump.

Biden issued a proclamation Friday night saying Washington

would “suspend and restrict the entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of noncitizens” from the eight African nations effective Monday, though he mentioned the decision in a previous statement hours earlier in the day after Thanksgiving.

“As a precautionary measure until we have more information, I am ordering additional air travel restrictions from South Africa and seven other countries,” Biden said in the statement sent by the White House. “These new restrictions will take effect on November 29. As we move forward, we will continue to be guided by what the science and my medical team advises.”

Biden was among the

Democratic leaders who responded with criticism to Trump’s restrictions on travel from China, where the virus originated.

“We are in the midst of a crisis with the coronavirus,” Biden tweeted early last year while still a candidate. “We need to lead the way with science — not Donald Trump’s record of hysteria, xenophobia, and fear-mongering. He is the worst possible person to lead our country through a global health emergency.”

Biden also said a “wall” and bans on travel would not stop the virus.

Many on social media were quick to note Biden’s original tweets when this latest move was announced.

Only on Nov. 8 did the

Biden administration loosen restrictions on European travelers to allow those with proof of vaccination and a negative test entry into the U.S.

The White House has also caught criticism from some liberals for continuing to turn away migrants at the border under the Trump-era COVID-19 rule Title 42.