President-elect Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to ending birthright U.S. citizenship, reigniting a debate over a policy enshrined in the Constitution.
In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump reaffirmed his hardline stance, promising to push through controversial immigration policies, including deporting undocumented immigrants and challenging the automatic citizenship of children born to illegal immigrants.
“You have to do it,” Trump stated when asked if he planned to deport “everyone who is here illegally over the next four years.”
He described the move as a necessity, doubling down on campaign promises he first made in 2023 during the intense race that secured him a second, non-consecutive term in the White House.
Trump also called birthright citizenship “ridiculous,” asserting that he would end it “if we can, through executive action.”
In May 2023, the former president shared a video on social media pledging to sign an executive order on his first day back in office to redefine the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which has granted citizenship to children born on U.S. soil for over a century.
“As part of my plan to secure the border on Day 1 of my new term in office, I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward, the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship,” Trump declared in the video.
Trump’s promises to dismantle birthright citizenship policies, emphasizing his vocal opposition to the practice during his first term. Despite frequently discussing it, Trump did not take formal action during his initial presidency.
He has now renewed his pledge as part of a broader effort to tighten border security and curb illegal immigration.
Additionally, Trump reiterated his stance on NATO, threatening to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance unless member countries meet their financial obligations. “They have to pay their bills,” Trump said, insisting on fairness in global alliances.
Trump’s renewed promises set the tone for his upcoming presidency, signaling an aggressive push to fulfill long-standing pledges that have divided public opinion.
