Donald Trump has never hidden his frustration with birthright citizenship. Long before returning to the White House, he argued that the United States was being exploited by people who viewed automatic citizenship as an immigration loophole rather than a constitutional principle.
Now, with the Supreme Court preparing to weigh one of the most consequential immigration cases in decades, Trump is dramatically escalating his warnings about what could happen if the current system remains in place.
Speaking Thursday from the Oval Office, Trump argued that preserving modern interpretations of birthright citizenship would create what he described as a long-term economic disaster for the United States.
“We’re the only country in the world that has it,” Trump said during remarks carried live on Newsmax. “You step into our country, and you’re all of a sudden a citizen.”
The president once again framed the issue as both a constitutional misunderstanding and a driver of illegal immigration. Trump argued the 14th Amendment was originally intended to guarantee citizenship rights for freed slaves after the Civil War — not to provide automatic citizenship to children born to people who entered the country illegally or temporarily.
“It was not meant for Chinese billionaires to have their children become citizens of our country,” Trump said.
The Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this month regarding Trump’s executive order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to illegal immigrants and certain temporary visa holders. A ruling is expected later this summer, and the outcome could reshape immigration law for generations.
At the center of the legal fight is the wording of the 14th Amendment itself, which declares that anyone “born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” is a citizen.
For more than a century, that language has generally been interpreted to guarantee citizenship to nearly everyone born on American soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Trump and his allies argue the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” leaves room for a narrower interpretation.
During Thursday’s remarks, Trump repeatedly tied the issue directly to immigration levels and economic strain.
“If this is allowed to stand, it will be a disaster economically for our country,” he warned. “You’ll have 25% of the people coming into our country coming in through birthright citizenship, and we won’t have any control.”
The comments reflect a broader argument increasingly embraced by immigration restriction advocates who believe birthright citizenship acts as an incentive for illegal immigration and so-called “birth tourism,” where foreign nationals travel to the United States specifically to give birth so their children receive citizenship.
Critics, however, argue Trump’s position would fundamentally alter a constitutional protection that has existed for generations and could create massive legal uncertainty surrounding citizenship rights.
Trump also turned his frustration toward the legal opposition challenging his executive order, dismissing many of the lawsuits as politically motivated.
“Birthright citizenship is a disgrace,” Trump said. “Study the people that are bringing the suit. These are not people that love our country.”
At one point, Trump openly suggested he was skeptical the Supreme Court would ultimately side with his administration.
“They’ll probably rule against me because they seem to like doing that,” he said. “Frankly, I’m not happy with some of the decisions.”
That remark underscored the unusual position Trump now occupies politically. Despite appointing three conservative justices during his first term and reshaping the ideological balance of the Court, he has increasingly criticized rulings that fail to align with his agenda.
The coming decision now carries enormous stakes far beyond immigration policy itself.
