QuickUSANews | Politics

Former President Donald Trump stirred fresh controversy this weekend by suggesting he might revoke Rosie O’Donnell’s U.S. citizenship, accusing the comedian of being a “threat to humanity” in a Truth Social post. But legally, Trump has no authority to do so — and constitutional law makes that abundantly clear.

In his post, Trump hinted that O’Donnell, who recently moved to Ireland, should “stay there” and said he’s “seriously considering” stripping her of her citizenship. This isn’t the first time Trump has made such threats — he recently questioned the citizenship status of Zohran Mamdani, a New York politician, and even suggested he might look into deporting Elon Musk, his former ally.

However, legal experts say these threats are empty and unconstitutional when aimed at native-born Americans like O’Donnell.

14th Amendment: A Citizenship Shield

Under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, anyone born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen. This clause guarantees that citizenship cannot be taken away involuntarily — not even by the president.

“Citizenship in the U.S. is protected by the Constitution,” says Amanda Frost, a law professor at the University of Virginia. “Unless someone voluntarily gives up their citizenship, it cannot be revoked.”

Denaturalization: A Separate Legal Path

While native-born Americans are fully protected, naturalized citizens — those who acquire citizenship through immigration — can be denaturalized under certain circumstances, such as fraud during the naturalization process or criminal convictions hidden during application.

During Trump’s presidency, the Department of Justice prioritized denaturalization as part of its broader immigration crackdown. Several high-profile cases, including the revocation of citizenship from individuals convicted of serious crimes, occurred under his administration.

Still, the process requires judicial review and cannot be executed unilaterally by the president.

Supreme Court Rulings Limit Government Power

In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the government cannot revoke citizenship without consent — except in rare cases of fraud. This landmark decision remains a key safeguard against authoritarian misuse of power.

Although the Trump administration attempted to challenge birthright citizenship and increase denaturalization efforts, no legal action has succeeded in overturning the 14th Amendment’s protections.

Bottom Line: Constitution Overpowers Politics

Despite Trump’s history of incendiary threats against critics, Rosie O’Donnell’s citizenship is secure. His comments may make headlines, but legally, they hold no weight against the enduring power of the U.S. Constitution.

While Trump may continue to target opponents rhetorically, his ability to act on such threats remains legally nonexistent when it comes to native-born Americans.