Trump Vows to End Birthright Citizenship
President-elect Donald Trump has stated that he plans to consider pardons for individuals involved in the 2021 US Capitol riot on his first day back in office next month.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump remarked, “These people are living in hell,” marking his first broadcast network appearance since his victory in the November election.
The Republican leader also promised to eliminate automatic citizenship for those born in the United States but expressed his willingness to collaborate with Democrats on assisting some undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children.
During the interview, which was recorded on Friday, Trump committed to signing “a lot” of executive orders after his inauguration on January 20, addressing issues such as immigration, energy, and the economy.
While he indicated he would not seek a Justice Department investigation into Joe Biden, Trump mentioned that some of his political opponents, including lawmakers who investigated the Capitol riot, should face imprisonment.
Trump was asked if he intended to pardon those convicted of participating in the Capitol riot, where his supporters stormed Congress three months after his 2020 election loss.
“We’re going to look at independent cases,” he replied, adding, “Yeah, but I’m going to be acting very quickly.”
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“First day,” he reiterated.
Trump went on to say, “By the way, they’ve been in there for years, and they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open.”
The NBC interview, aired on Sunday, also revealed other key points:
Trump clarified his stance on NATO, saying, “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely, I’d stay with NATO.”
When asked about abortion pill restrictions, he said he would not seek to impose any, though he added, “Well, I commit. I mean…things change.”
Trump also suggested Ukraine might expect less aid upon his return to the White House and commented that someone needs to investigate whether there is a connection between autism and childhood vaccines—an idea dismissed by multiple global studies. He proposed his health secretary nominee, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., could look into this issue.
Reaffirming his earlier stance, Trump promised not to cut Social Security or raise its eligibility age but indicated he would work to make it “more efficient,” without offering further details. When asked about his proposed tariffs on imports from key US trading partners, he responded, “I can’t guarantee anything. I can’t guarantee tomorrow.”
On immigration, Trump told NBC he would take executive action to end birthright citizenship, which grants US citizenship to anyone born in the country, regardless of their parents’ origin.
The practice originates from the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which declares that “all persons born” in the US “are citizens of the United States.”
“We’re going to have to get it changed,” Trump said. “We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.”
Trump also reiterated his intention to deport undocumented immigrants, including those with US-citizen family members.
“I don’t want to be breaking up families,” he stated. “So the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.”
He expressed a desire to collaborate with Congress on a solution for Dreamers—undocumented immigrants protected by the Obama-era DACA program, which Trump previously attempted to terminate.
“I will work with the Democrats on a plan,” he said, noting that some Dreamers have established successful careers and businesses.
Trump’s comments also appeared to reflect conflicting views on pursuing retribution against political enemies.
This week, outgoing President Joe Biden granted a sweeping pardon to his son, Hunter, and is reportedly considering additional blanket pardons for political allies before leaving office.
Trump indicated that he would not pursue a special counsel investigation into Biden and his family, distancing himself from his previous calls for such actions.
“I’m not looking to go back into the past,” he said. “I’m looking to make our country successful. Retribution will be through success.”
However, he also argued that members of the Democratic-led House committee that investigated him “should go to jail.”
Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney, a member of the committee, responded to Trump’s comments, labeling them a “continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
In the interview, Trump also stated he would not direct the FBI to investigate his political opponents but clarified, “If they were crooked, if they did something wrong, if they have broken the law, probably.”
“They went after me. You know, they went after me, and I did nothing wrong,” he added.
Trump Vows to End Birthright Citizenship
