Trump Vows Immediate Push for Supreme Court Rehearing on Birthright Citizenship Ruling

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will immediately petition the Supreme Court to rehear its 5-4 decision last month striking down his executive order restricting birthright citizenship. The move comes as the administration continues to challenge what it views as a misinterpretation of the 14th Amendment and warns of widespread abuse through birth tourism and chain migration.

In a Truth Social post, Trump stated, “I will be asking for a Rehearing by the United States Supreme Court, IMMEDIATELY. This miscarriage of justice will destroy America if they don’t change their absolutely insane decision.” He further claimed that signs and billboards advertising birthright citizenship—with promises of “Deliveries starting at $4000”—are appearing along the southern border and in Mexico, calling the practice a scam that turns American citizenship into a commodity for sale and enables entire families to follow through chain migration.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in the case upheld citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or on temporary visas, interpreting the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause as granting automatic citizenship based on birthplace alone. Trump and administration officials have long argued that the amendment’s original intent, rooted in the post-Civil War era, was never meant to confer citizenship on the children of foreign nationals who enter unlawfully or temporarily, and that such a broad reading incentivizes illegal immigration and strains public resources.

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson emphasized that the fight over birthright citizenship is ongoing. She stated that American citizenship holds far greater value than a “cheap plane ticket or a last-minute border crossing” and assured the public that President Trump remains committed to addressing what the administration sees as exploitation of the system. Jackson noted that the Supreme Court had fundamentally misinterpreted the amendment’s purpose in its decision.

Supreme Court rehearings are rare under the court’s rules. Petitions must generally be filed within 25 days of the judgment and focus on exceptional circumstances, such as overlooked legal or factual issues. Rehearing cannot proceed without support from at least one justice who joined the majority opinion. Legal experts note the high bar, yet the administration has signaled it views the issue as too consequential to abandon.

The announcement aligns with broader Trump administration efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies and protect the integrity of U.S. citizenship. Officials argue that unlimited birthright citizenship creates powerful incentives for illegal entry and temporary overstays, leading to billions in costs through access to public benefits, education, and eventual chain migration for extended family members. Trump has repeatedly described the practice as unsustainable and contrary to the nation’s sovereignty.

Critics of the current interpretation maintain that the 14th Amendment’s phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excludes those owing allegiance to foreign powers, including illegal immigrants and certain temporary visitors. Proponents of reform point to historical context from the amendment’s ratification debates and early enforcement, where citizenship was not automatically extended in similar circumstances.

With the administration preparing its rehearing petition and continuing to highlight border-related advertising campaigns promoting the practice, the issue remains a focal point of the president’s immigration agenda. The outcome could reshape long-standing interpretations of citizenship and influence future enforcement strategies aimed at curbing what officials describe as systemic abuse of American birthright policies.