Trump's declarations signal a controversial approach to immigration and political accountability in his upcoming presidency while acknowledging the complexities involved in these actions.
**Trump's Ambitious Plans for His Second Term: Ending Birthright Citizenship and Pardoning Rioters**
**Trump's Ambitious Plans for His Second Term: Ending Birthright Citizenship and Pardoning Rioters**
In his first major interview since the recent elections, Trump outlines bold proposals including the end of birthright citizenship and pardons for Capitol rioters.
President-elect Donald Trump has boldly proclaimed his intent to eliminate birthright citizenship, a cornerstone of U.S. law that grants citizenship to anyone born on American soil. During an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Trump claimed, "We have to end it. It's ridiculous," signaling that he expects to challenge this long-standing constitutional provision starting on his first day back in office next month.
Ending birthright citizenship faces monumental obstacles since it is entrenched within the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which stipulates that "all persons born" within the nation are citizens. Any attempts to alter this would require a constitutional amendment, demanding a two-thirds majority in Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
In the same interview, Trump expressed his willingness to grant pardons to those involved in the 2021 Capitol riot, stating, "We're going to look at independent cases," and indicating that quick action on such decisions would be a priority. He emphasized his criticism of the current treatment of these individuals in correctional facilities.
Additionally, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, albeit with an openness to collaborate with Democrats on a plan for "Dreamers" — a term for undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Trump previously sought to dismantle.
On various issues, Trump hinted at a potential reduction in aid to Ukraine, a re-evaluation of U.S. membership in NATO conditional on member contributions, and a more pronounced skepticism towards vaccine links to autism, despite mainstream scientific consensus rejecting such claims. He did, however, maintain a pledge not to cut Social Security while promising to enhance its efficiency without further elaboration.
His evolving stance on abortion pills raised eyebrows, particularly when he noted, "I commit," but added, "things change." Trump also revealed a lack of guarantees regarding the economic impact of potential tariffs on importations.
While he rejected pursuing investigations against President Joe Biden's family, Trump expressed frustration towards political adversaries, suggesting incarceration for those involved in earlier investigations against him. Former Congress member Liz Cheney criticized Trump's comments as an assault on the rule of law.
Trump's multifaceted agenda encapsulates traditional Republican goals while revealing his willingness to negotiate some aspects of immigration policy, underscoring complex scenarios that will define his second tenure as president.