President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship and issue pardons to Capitol riot participants as part of a series of executive actions he plans to implement on his first day in office. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump outlined his agenda in his first major interview since winning November’s election.
Trump described automatic citizenship for individuals born in the US as “ridiculous” and said he would seek to terminate the practice through executive order. However, legal experts note this would face significant challenges, as birthright citizenship is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution. Any such attempt would likely be blocked by courts and would require substantial Congressional and state-level support to amend the Constitution.
On the Capitol riot, Trump reiterated his intention to review cases of those convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack. “We’re going to look at independent cases,” he said, adding that pardons could be issued as early as his first day in office. He called the conditions faced by some detainees “filthy and disgusting.”
Trump also addressed several other key issues during the interview:
Immigration: He promised to reinstate mass deportations, including for undocumented immigrants with US citizen family members. However, he said he is open to working with Democrats to create a pathway for “Dreamers” under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
NATO: Trump suggested the US would remain in NATO only if member nations “pay their bills” and treat the US fairly.
Ukraine Aid: He indicated that Ukraine should expect less financial and military support under his leadership.
Health Secretary Nominee: Trump’s nominee for health secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., may investigate a potential link between childhood vaccines and autism—an idea debunked by global scientific studies.
Trump’s remarks have drawn criticism, including from former House committee member Liz Cheney, who described his comments about jailing members of the January 6 investigative panel as a “continuation of his assault on the rule of law.”
Trump, who also pledged not to cut Social Security or raise its eligibility age, emphasized that his administration’s focus would be on moving forward rather than revisiting past grievances. He said retribution against political adversaries would come through “success,” though he left the door open to investigations of individuals who “broke the law.”
With his inauguration on January 20, 2025, Trump’s outlined agenda highlights his intent to reshape immigration, justice, and international relations, signaling a dramatic shift in US policies under his leadership.
