President Donald Trump praised a Supreme Court decision on Friday that allows his administration to begin implementing an executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship. At a White House press briefing, Trump said the 14th Amendment was “meant for the babies of slaves” and not for children born to undocumented immigrants, whom he described as abusing the system.
“It had to do with the babies of slaves,” Trump said. “That’s what it was for. Not for people coming here illegally and gaming the system. They used birthright citizenship—some of the worst people, some of the cartels—to get people into our country.”
The Court’s 6-3 decision does not rule on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive order, EO 14160, but it blocks federal judges from issuing nationwide injunctions—effectively allowing the policy to move forward in areas where it hasn’t been challenged.
“This is a monumental victory for the Constitution,” Trump told reporters. “In recent months, we’ve seen radical left judges try to overrule the rightful powers of the President. That was a grave threat to democracy.”
The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling marks a significant shift in the balance of power between the executive branch and the judiciary. Trump, who has faced legal barriers to expanding executive authority throughout his presidency, welcomed the decision as a validation of his administration’s approach.
EO 14160, signed in January, directs federal agencies to deny automatic U.S. citizenship to children born in the country to undocumented immigrants or individuals with temporary status. While implementation details remain unclear, Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the administration will observe a 30-day waiting period before beginning enforcement.
Democratic lawmakers sharply criticized the ruling and Trump’s remarks. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the decision “an unprecedented and terrifying step toward authoritarianism.”
“His plan to end birthright citizenship is blatantly unconstitutional,” Schumer said on X. “Instead of stopping it in its tracks, the Court has ducked the question and bowed to an out-of-control Executive Branch.”
Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a strong dissent, stating the decision is “nothing less than an open invitation for the government to bypass the Constitution.” She warned that it could allow the executive branch to enforce policies even when lower courts deem them unconstitutional.
For now, the Supreme Court has left the underlying legal question to lower courts. District judges have largely maintained that eliminating birthright citizenship would violate the 14th Amendment.
Trump, however, insists that the amendment was created with a narrow intent. “This was about people who were brought here against their will, not people who cross the border to take advantage of America,” he said.
The case is expected to return to the Supreme Court during the next term, where a final ruling on the executive order’s constitutionality will be determined.
