A social media claim circulating after a significant Supreme Court decision has been found to be inaccurate. The claim alleged that President Donald Trump stated he possessed the authority to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, irrespective of the Supreme Court’s stance.
This assertion emerged following the Supreme Court’s June 30, 2026, 6-3 ruling that upheld birthright citizenship and consequently blocked an executive order signed by Trump on the first day of his second term. The order aimed to discontinue automatic U.S. citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and certain temporary foreign visitors.
The policy had encountered swift legal opposition from Democratic state attorneys general and the American Civil Liberties Union. The court’s decision reinforced the constitutional principle enshrined in the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, a precedent established over a century ago.
In reality, following the Supreme Court’s ruling, President Trump commented that the decision was “too bad” but did not assert he could unilaterally terminate birthright citizenship. Instead, he encouraged Congress to enact legislation to address what he characterized as “expensive and unfair” birthright citizenship. Trump suggested that Congress could tackle this issue through legislation, rather than the more complex route of a constitutional amendment. He called for lawmakers to establish exceptions to birthright citizenship for individuals born to parents without permanent legal status in the United States.
On the social media platform Truth Social, Trump posted, “Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship.”
However, even if Congress were to introduce such legislation, it would likely face considerable hurdles, including the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster requirement, which has historically impeded highly contentious bills during Trump’s second term.
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