Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has asserted that he has the power to revoke American citizenship “in a moment.” He explained that this action would be taken if individuals were found to be disloyal or posed a significant threat to the country.
Trump made these remarks during an interview with The New York Times last week, the transcript of which was released on Sunday local time. The conversation covered intense discussions on immigration, national security, and citizenship.
When asked if he would consider revoking citizenship from naturalised Americans, Trump responded, “If their citizenship should be taken away, I would do it, yes.” On being pressed further, he added, “I would do it immediately.”
In the United States, naturalised citizenship refers to individuals who were not born in the country but have legally obtained US citizenship through a formal process. Such citizens enjoy the same rights as native-born Americans.
Trump stated that his administration was currently defining the “criteria” for such actions. He suggested that citizenship protections should not be absolute and emphasised that loyalty and honesty towards the nation should be the standard.
During the nearly two-hour interview in the Oval Office, Trump repeatedly mentioned Somali Americans, describing Somalia as “one of the worst countries in the world” and claimed that people from there had caused serious problems in the US.
When directly asked if he was considering revoking citizenship from Somali-origin individuals, Trump said, “If they are disloyal, I definitely would.”
Trump also named Minnesota Democrat Ilhan Omar, stating that she should be “immediately removed from Congress” and deported to Somalia. When questioned whether she should lose her US citizenship, he replied, “Oh, absolutely.”
Reporters from The New York Times challenged Trump on the lack of evidence supporting some of his claims, including allegations regarding Omar’s personal background, which have not been proven. Trump dismissed these objections and insisted that his views were correct.
He rejected concerns that his statements might unfairly stereotype entire communities, saying, “I don’t care. I want good people in this country. I want people who love the country.”
Trump argued that judges might block him in certain situations but suggested that his authority was stronger in areas related to law and order. He said he was elected on promises of border control and public safety.
The former president also mentioned the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act, a long-standing law that allows the President to deploy the military in cases of severe lawlessness when local authorities fail to maintain order. However, he said he had not yet felt the need to use this power.
Trump’s comments come amid ongoing legal battles over immigration enforcement, deportations, civil rights, and the constitutional limits of executive authority.
Under US law, revoking citizenship is rare and generally requires proof of fraud during the naturalisation process, with courts playing a key role.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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