Trump Owes His U.S. Citizenship—and Presidency—to the Birthright Policy He Now Wants to End

3 generations of trump

By Mary Jones | Friday, December 20, 2024 | 4 min read

Donald Trump has made no secret of his disdain for birthright citizenship, vowing to end it if re-elected as president. But here’s the irony: Trump himself might never have been an American citizen—let alone the 45th and potentially 47th president of the United States. The same principle he now seeks to dismantle is the one that helped shape his own family’s American story.

Birthright citizenship, enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, guarantees that anyone born on American soil automatically becomes a citizen, regardless of their parents’ nationality or immigration status. It’s a cornerstone of American values, reflecting the nation’s commitment to inclusion and equality. Yet Trump has repeatedly labeled it as “ridiculous” and an invitation for abuse, ignoring the fact that his own family’s history paints a very different picture.

A Family Story Rooted in Birthright Citizenship
Trump’s grandfather, Friedrich Trump, immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1885. Friedrich was not a naturalized citizen when his son Fred Trump—Donald Trump’s father—was born in New York in 1905. Under the laws of the time, Fred automatically became a U.S. citizen by virtue of being born on American soil. This made Donald Trump, born in Queens in 1946, a citizen by birthright as well.

Without birthright citizenship, the Trump family’s trajectory might have taken a very different turn. Donald Trump may not have had the platform to build his real estate empire, star in “The Apprentice,” or eventually run for president. The same policy that ensured Fred Trump’s citizenship is now being maligned by the grandson who benefited from it.

Trump’s call to end birthright citizenship represents a fundamental contradiction in his rhetoric. On one hand, he claims to champion American values and constitutional rights. On the other, he’s advocating for dismantling a principle that has defined the American dream for generations of immigrants, including his own family.

Ending birthright citizenship wouldn’t just affect undocumented immigrants—it could create a labyrinth of legal challenges for children born to temporary visa holders or even naturalized citizens. It would fundamentally alter the concept of American identity, stripping it of the inclusivity that has long been its hallmark.


Trump’s attacks on birthright citizenship are part of a larger political strategy to galvanize his base by vilifying immigrants and playing to nationalist sentiments. By framing birthright citizenship as a loophole, he redirects attention away from its historical significance and the countless contributions immigrants have made to the nation.

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But in doing so, Trump risks erasing the very foundation of his own family’s story. Friedrich Trump came to America seeking a better life. His descendants were able to thrive because the system recognized Fred Trump as an American, no matter his father’s origins. That recognition paved the way for Donald Trump’s rise to power—a rise he now uses to condemn others seeking the same opportunity.

The debate over birthright citizenship isn’t just about policy—it’s about the soul of America and the kind of country it aspires to be. Will it continue to be a nation that embraces diversity, offering equal opportunities to anyone born on its soil? Or will it shift toward a society where lineage and privilege dictate who truly belongs?

For Donald Trump, the answer seems clear. He has openly expressed a preference for immigrants from countries like Sweden, a sentiment tied to his long-standing narrative. In his book The Art of the Deal, Trump even falsely claimed his father was from Sweden—a fabrication that raises questions about his view of heritage and belonging.

The irony is striking. Trump’s real family story is one of immigration and opportunity. Yet, he now champions policies that would deny others the very pathway his family once took. This isn’t just about changing the rules—it’s about redefining who gets to call America home.

For Trump, this debate is personal—even if he refuses to acknowledge it. His family’s history is a testament to the power of birthright citizenship and the opportunities it creates. The irony is stark: without it, there would be no “Make America Great Again,” no Trump presidency, and perhaps no Trump legacy as we know it.

As Trump doubles down on his efforts to end birthright citizenship, it’s worth remembering that his own story—and his improbable rise to the White House—was only possible because of the very policy he now seeks to dismantle.

Copyright 2024 FN, NewsRoom.

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