President-elect Donald Trump has made bold promises for his first day back in office, including a plan to end birthright citizenship, which would strip automatic citizenship from anyone born in the U.S.
His vow to address this issue comes despite significant legal challenges, as birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In his first broadcast network interview since his November election victory, Trump told NBC’s *Meet the Press*, “We have to end it. It’s ridiculous.” He further emphasized his commitment, saying, “Once you give police that power to give people that power too, they would take advantage of it.” However, his plan to end birthright citizenship faces significant hurdles, as changing the Constitution would require a two-thirds majority in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
In addition to tackling birthright citizenship, Trump outlined other key proposals for his administration. He reiterated his commitment to mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, including those with U.S. citizen family members, stating, “so the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back.” This proposal is expected to spark intense debate as it affects millions of people living in the country.
Trump’s stance on immigration also includes a willingness to work with Democrats on solutions for the so-called “Dreamers”—undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. “I will work with the Democrats on a plan,” Trump said, adding that some of these immigrants have established themselves with successful jobs and businesses. This marks a potential shift in his tone compared to previous years when he sought to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Despite his hardline rhetoric on immigration, Trump made an important concession about his plans for social policies. He promised not to seek cuts to Social Security or raise its eligibility age. “I will make it more efficient,” Trump said, without elaborating further on how he intends to achieve this goal.
On his economic agenda, Trump vowed to issue “a lot” of executive orders on day one, addressing issues in the economy, energy, and immigration. Among his proposals, Trump also expressed skepticism about the ongoing U.S. commitment to NATO, saying, “If they’re paying their bills, and if I think they’re doing a fair — they’re treating us fairly, the answer is absolutely, I’d stay with NATO.”
In a related policy shift, Trump addressed the issue of abortion, saying he would not seek to impose restrictions on abortion pills, although he qualified his statement, “Well, I commit. I mean… things change.” He also discussed his stance on Ukraine, suggesting that the U.S. would likely reduce its aid to the country if he returned to the White House, marking a departure from current policy.
Trump continued his controversial rhetoric in the interview by discussing the Capitol riot, for which many of his supporters were convicted. He suggested that he would pardon individuals involved in the 2021 insurrection, stating, “We’re going to look at independent cases. Yeah, but I’m going to be acting very quickly.” The former president’s comments were in response to the charges against those who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, following his defeat in the 2020 election.
In a broader reflection on political retribution, Trump dismissed the idea of seeking a justice department investigation into President Joe Biden. “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, Trump did call for jail time for some members of the committee that investigated him, including former Rep. Liz Cheney, who responded by criticizing Trump for continuing his attack on the rule of law.
On the topic of the 2020 election, Trump suggested that some political figures, including Biden, should face legal consequences if they were found guilty of wrongdoing. “If they were crooked, if they did something wrong, if they have broken the law, probably,” Trump said. This remark reflects ongoing tensions between Trump and his political adversaries, particularly those involved in investigations against him.
Trump’s interview, which aired on Sunday, outlines his aggressive stance on a range of domestic and international issues. His promises to take immediate action upon taking office signal a highly confrontational approach to governance, especially in matters related to immigration, law enforcement, and foreign policy. While the President-elect has pledged sweeping changes, many of his proposals face serious legal and political challenges that will likely shape the early days of his administration.