Can Trump Legally Strip Citizenship from Musk, Mamdani, or O’Donnell?

As of July 18, 2025, there have been several important updates regarding the authority of Donald Trump and the United States 🇺🇸 government to strip citizenship from individuals such as Elon Musk, Zohran Mamdani, or Rosie O’Donnell. These changes affect both naturalized and birthright citizens, and have significant implications for anyone concerned about denaturalization or the loss of citizenship. This update explains what has changed, who is affected, the effective dates, required actions, and what these developments mean for pending and future citizenship cases.

Summary of What Changed

• No new authority for Donald Trump or the U.S. government to strip citizenship from individuals like Musk, Mamdani, or O’Donnell.
• Denaturalization (removing citizenship from naturalized citizens) remains limited to rare cases involving serious crimes or fraud.
• Birthright citizenship (citizenship by birth in the United States 🇺🇸) is still protected by the 14th Amendment, despite attempts to change this through executive action.
• Recent court decisions have blocked efforts to end birthright citizenship and have reaffirmed strong legal protections for all citizens.

Let’s break down these updates in detail, focusing on the legal framework, who is affected, what actions are required, and the broader implications.

Current Legal Framework for Stripping U.S. Citizenship

Naturalized Citizens and Denaturalization

Naturalized citizens are people who were born outside the United States 🇺🇸 but became citizens through the legal process called naturalization. The government can only strip citizenship from naturalized citizens in very specific situations. The main law that allows this is found in 8 U.S.C. § 1451(a). According to this law, denaturalization can happen if:

• Citizenship was obtained by lying or hiding important facts (fraud or misrepresentation).
• The person committed serious crimes such as war crimes, terrorism, or human rights abuses.

A recent memo from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in June 2025 tells government lawyers to focus on denaturalization cases involving:

• War crimes or extrajudicial killings
• Human rights abuses
• Ongoing threats to the United States 🇺🇸, such as terrorism

Important Points:

• Denaturalization is a civil court process. The government must prove its case in federal court.
• The person facing denaturalization has the right to a lawyer and can fight the charges.
• Denaturalization is not used for political reasons or against people just because of their opinions.

Birthright Citizens

Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States 🇺🇸 is automatically a citizen, no matter their parents’ citizenship. This is protected by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In January 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14156 to try to end birthright citizenship for children born to non-citizen parents. However:

• Multiple federal courts blocked this order, saying it was unconstitutional.
• A nationwide class action lawsuit now protects all children born on U.S. soil from having their citizenship taken away.
• The Supreme Court has not made a final decision on this executive order, but as of July 2025, birthright citizenship is still fully protected.

Who Is Affected? Case-by-Case Analysis

Elon Musk

• Status: Naturalized U.S. citizen since 2002; also holds Canadian 🇨🇦 and South African citizenships.
• Denaturalization Risk: There is no public record or evidence that Musk has committed any crimes that would qualify for denaturalization. He has not been accused of fraud or serious criminal activity.
• Political Targeting: Musk’s political views or his role as a former advisor to President Trump do not put his citizenship at risk. The law does not allow citizenship to be stripped for political reasons.
• Canadian Citizenship: There is a petition in Canada 🇨🇦 to revoke Musk’s citizenship, but Canadian law only allows this if citizenship was obtained by fraud, which does not apply to Musk.

Zohran Mamdani

• Status: Naturalized U.S. citizen; born in Uganda, immigrated as a child.
• Denaturalization Risk: No evidence or public record of crimes or fraud. His political activism, including pro-Palestinian advocacy, is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be used as a reason to strip his citizenship.

Rosie O’Donnell

• Status: Born in the United States 🇺🇸; birthright citizen.
• Denaturalization Risk: As a birthright citizen, O’Donnell cannot have her citizenship revoked by executive order or administrative action. The courts have blocked attempts to end birthright citizenship, and the 14th Amendment remains in force.

Effective Dates and Recent Policy Changes (2024–2025)

• June 2025 DOJ Memo: Directs focus on denaturalization for serious crimes only, not for political reasons.
• Executive Order 14156 (January 2025): Tried to end birthright citizenship for children of non-citizen parents, but is blocked by courts and not in effect.
• Supreme Court (June 27, 2025): Limited the use of nationwide court orders but did not allow the executive order to take effect.
• Federal Court (July 10, 2025): Certified a nationwide class action protecting all children born in the United States 🇺🇸 from citizenship revocation.

What This Means:
– No new risk for naturalized or birthright citizens unless they are accused of very serious crimes or fraud.
– No action required for most citizens. If you are a naturalized citizen and have not committed fraud or serious crimes, your citizenship is secure.
– Birthright citizenship remains fully protected for everyone born in the United States 🇺🇸.

Required Actions for Affected Individuals

• Naturalized Citizens: No action is needed unless you receive a formal notice from the Department of Justice about a denaturalization case. If you do, you have the right to a lawyer and to defend yourself in court.
• Birthright Citizens: No action is required. Your citizenship cannot be taken away by executive order or administrative action.
• Pending Applications: If you are applying for naturalization, make sure all information is true and complete. Fraud or hiding important facts can lead to denaturalization later.

Implications for Pending and Future Applications

• Naturalization Applicants: The process remains the same. Honesty is critical—any false information can be grounds for future denaturalization.
• Pending Denaturalization Cases: Only cases involving serious crimes or fraud are being pursued. Political beliefs or activism are not valid reasons for denaturalization.
• Birthright Citizenship: No pending applications are affected. All children born in the United States 🇺🇸 remain citizens, regardless of their parents’ status.

Expert and Stakeholder Perspectives

Legal Scholars

Experts agree that denaturalization is a rare and serious action, limited by the Constitution. It cannot be used as a political weapon. The 14th Amendment’s protection of birthright citizenship is strong and has survived recent legal challenges.

Civil Rights Groups

Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have played a key role in blocking attempts to strip citizenship from birthright citizens. They continue to monitor denaturalization cases to ensure due process is followed.

Government Officials

The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have not announced any plans to target high-profile individuals like Musk, Mamdani, or O’Donnell for denaturalization or citizenship revocation.

Procedures and Practical Guidance

How Denaturalization Works:

• The Department of Justice files a civil lawsuit in federal court.
• The government must show evidence of fraud, misrepresentation, or serious criminal conduct.
• The person has the right to a lawyer and to defend themselves in court.
• The court makes the final decision. If citizenship is revoked, the person may face removal (deportation) from the United States 🇺🇸.

Birthright Citizenship:

• Cannot be revoked by executive order or administrative action.
• Only a constitutional amendment or a Supreme Court decision could change this, and neither has happened.

For more information on the denaturalization process, visit the official USCIS page on citizenship revocation.

Future Outlook

Ongoing Litigation

The Trump administration’s efforts to restrict citizenship are still being challenged in court. So far, courts have blocked any overreaching executive actions, especially those that would affect birthright citizenship.

Policy Changes

Any future changes to who can be stripped of citizenship would require new laws or changes to the Constitution. Both options face major legal and political obstacles, making sudden changes unlikely.

Official Resources and Contacts

If you have questions or concerns about your citizenship status, the following resources can help:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): For information on citizenship, denaturalization, and related forms. Visit USCIS Citizenship.
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ): For updates on denaturalization cases and policies. Visit DOJ Civil Division.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): For legal advocacy and updates on citizenship rights. Visit ACLU Immigrants’ Rights.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

• Donald Trump and the U.S. government cannot strip citizenship from Elon Musk, Zohran Mamdani, or Rosie O’Donnell unless there is clear evidence of fraud or serious crimes.
• Denaturalization is rare and only applies to naturalized citizens who have committed certain acts.
• Birthright citizenship is still fully protected by the Constitution.
• No action is needed for most citizens. If you receive a notice about denaturalization, seek legal help right away.
• Pending applications for citizenship are not affected unless there is fraud or misrepresentation.

For the latest updates and detailed analysis, VisaVerge.com reports that the legal protections for both naturalized and birthright citizens remain strong, and recent attempts to expand denaturalization or strip citizenship have not succeeded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Donald Trump strip citizenship from political opponents or critics?
No. The law does not allow citizenship to be taken away for political reasons, speech, or activism. Only fraud or certain serious crimes can lead to denaturalization.

What should I do if I am contacted about denaturalization?
You have the right to a lawyer and to defend yourself in court. Do not ignore any official notice—seek legal help immediately.

Is birthright citizenship at risk?
No. As of July 18, 2025, birthright citizenship is fully protected by the 14th Amendment and recent court decisions.

Where can I find official information about citizenship and denaturalization?
Visit the USCIS Citizenship page for official guidance and forms.

Conclusion

The rules for stripping citizenship in the United States 🇺🇸 have not changed in ways that would affect Elon Musk, Zohran Mamdani, Rosie O’Donnell, or most other citizens. Denaturalization remains a rare process, limited to cases of fraud or serious crimes, and birthright citizenship is still protected by the Constitution. If you are a citizen, your status is secure unless you are formally accused of fraud or a qualifying crime. Stay informed by checking official government resources and trusted news sources for any future updates.

Learn Today

Denaturalization → The legal process to revoke citizenship from naturalized citizens for fraud or serious crimes.
Birthright Citizenship → Automatic citizenship granted to anyone born within the United States, protected by the 14th Amendment.
Executive Order 14156 → A 2025 presidential order attempting to end birthright citizenship, blocked by courts as unconstitutional.
8 U.S.C. § 1451(a) → Federal law permitting denaturalization for fraud or serious criminal conduct in naturalization cases.
14th Amendment → A U.S. constitutional amendment guaranteeing birthright citizenship and equal protection under the law.

This Article in a Nutshell

Recent legal updates confirm birthright citizenship protections under the 14th Amendment remain intact. Denaturalization only targets serious crimes for naturalized citizens, with no political stripping of citizenship. High-profile figures Elon Musk, Zohran Mamdani, and Rosie O’Donnell face no new risk under current laws and court rulings.
— By VisaVerge.com