Liputan6.com, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump rekindled the heated debate over birthright citizenship after attending oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court on April 1, 2026.
Trump's appearance marked a historic moment, as he became the first sitting president to appear directly at oral arguments at the nation's highest court.
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His controversial remarks, posted on social media platform Truth Social shortly after leaving the courtroom.
The case, Trump v. Barbara, is a nationwide class action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and various immigrant rights organizations.
The lawsuit specifically challenges an executive order signed by Donald Trump on the first day of his second term, January 20, 2025.
The order seeks to reinterpret the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Donald Trump's Controversial Statements
After attending the Supreme Court oral arguments, Donald Trump immediately shared his views on the social media platform Truth Social.
About an hour after leaving the courtroom, he wrote, "We are the only country in the world stupid enough to allow 'birthright' citizenship!"
The post quickly garnered public and media attention, strengthening Donald Trump's position on immigration, which has long been a key focus of his campaign.
His strong criticism of the birthright citizenship system reflects his belief that the practice is being abused and needs to be reformed in the national interest of the United States.
The US Supreme Court Hearing
The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the landmark case of Trump v. Barbara.
The case is a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other immigrant rights organizations, challenging an executive order issued by President Donald Trump.
The executive order, signed on January 20, 2025, seeks to deny automatic citizenship to babies born in the US to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily.
At the heart of this legal debate lies the interpretation of the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution.
The clause states, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
Challengers argue that Donald Trump's executive order directly contradicts the text of the Constitution and years of established legal precedent, which broadly interprets this clause as guaranteeing citizenship at birth regardless of the parents' immigration status.
Justices' Presence and Skepticism
Donald Trump's presence at the Supreme Court during oral arguments was unprecedented for a sitting US president.
He was present during arguments presented by the government's attorney, Attorney General D. John Sauer, but left the courtroom before the ACLU began its arguments.
His presence demonstrates his seriousness regarding the issue and his willingness to personally demonstrate his support for his executive order.
However, Supreme Court justices, including several appointed by Donald Trump himself, appear skeptical of the administration's argument that it seeks to limit citizenship based on birthright.
This skepticism indicates that the executive order may face significant challenges in gaining majority support in the highest court.
It's worth noting that Trump's previous executive orders have been consistently blocked by lower courts, demonstrating a pattern of legal resistance to these efforts.