Echoing Right-Wing Media, Trump Calls For The Fourteenth Amendment To Be Dismantled

Written by Lis Power

Published

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump echoed right-wing media's calls to dismantle the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee to birthright citizenship in his recently announced immigration plan, and conservative media figures responding by lauding the plan as a “remarkable political document.”

Trump Announces Immigration Plan, Calls For End To Birthright Citizenship 

AP: Trump's Immigration Plan Would Deny Citizenship To Babies Of Undocumented Immigrants Born In The U.S. Donald Trump's newly released immigration plan calls for Mexico to pay to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and seeks an end to birthright citizenship, as the Associated Press explained:

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump wants to deny citizenship to the babies of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as part of an immigration plan that emphasizes border security and deportation for millions.

He would also rescind Obama administration executive orders on immigration.

Trump described his expanded vision of how to secure American borders during a wide-ranging interview Sunday on NBC's “Meet The Press,” saying that he would push to end the constitutionally protected citizenship rights of children of any family living illegally inside the U.S. 

“They have to go,” Trump said, adding: “What they're doing, they're having a baby. And then all of a sudden, nobody knows ... the baby's here.” 

Native-born children of immigrants -- even those living illegally in the U.S. -- have been automatically considered American citizens since the adoption of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution in 1868. [Associated Press, 8/17/15] [donaldjtrump.com, accessed 8/17/15]

Trump Echoes Years Of Demands From Right-Wing Pundits To End To Birthright Citizenship 

Bill O'Reilly: Birthright Citizenship “Has Got To Change.” During a March 10 segment, Bill O'Reilly said “that law's got to change” after hearing that due to birthright citizenship, a baby born in the U.S. is given a passport. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 3/10/15]

Laura Ingraham: Republicans' Number One Priority Should Be “Ridding Us Of This Birthright Citizenship.” During a November 2014 edition of The Laura Ingraham Show, Ingraham asked, “When are we going to get rid of this birthright citizenship nonsense?” She advocated that Republican's number one priority on immigration should be “locking the border down and ridding us of this birthright citizenship.” [Courtside Entertainment Group, The Laura Ingraham Show, 11/19/14] 

Fox's Steve Doocy: “Maybe It's Time To Go Ahead And Re-Examine” The 14th Amendment. In the wake of attempts by GOP congressmen to “rethink the 14th Amendment,” Fox host Steve Doocy claimed, “Why not have a dialogue about changing” the 14th amendment's right to birthright citizenship, stating, “Maybe it's time to go ahead an re-examine it.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/4/10]

Mark Levin: Birthright Citizenship Is A “Nut-Job Policy.” In 2010, conservative radio host Mark Levin claimed “the Constitution does not provide for” birthright citizenship and called it a “nut-job policy.” [therightscoop.com, 5/29/10]

Right-Wing Media Now Praise Trump's Immigration Plan As “Remarkable,” Akin To The Magna Carta 

Fox & Friends: Trump's Immigration Position Paper Is A “Remarkable Political Document.” Fox & Friends co-host Steve Doocy extolled Trump's newly released immigration plan as a “remarkable political document” and “an early Christmas gift” for conservatives who desire immigration reform on the August 17 edition of the program. [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 8/17/15]

Ann Coulter: “Greatest Political Document Since The Magna Carta.” In an August 16 tweet, conservative commentator Ann Coulter praised Trump's immigration proposal, likening it to the Magna Carta:

[Twitter.com, 8/16/15]

Limbaugh: “People Are Standing Up And Cheering” Trump's Immigration Plan. On August 17, Rush Limbaugh celebrated Trump's immigration plan, saying people are “standing up and cheering” because they “don't want their country given away” to illegal immigrants: 

LIMBAUGH: Trump's immigration plan, back to it. Before I read it specifically from his, his website, You know, he wants to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. He wants to deport all undocumented immigrants. They have to go. Now the inside the beltway people, when they hear that, they cringe. 'Don't say that's what Republicans, oh God.' People are standing up and cheering. They don't want their country given away, for crying out loud, and to pay people at the same time. He wants to do away with, rescind, Obama's executive amnesty program. He wants to triple the number of immigration and customs enforcement agents in America. He wants to revert to the tariff system that existed prior to the passage of NAFTA. And he would end the practice of granting U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants. Bye bye anchor babies. And I'm telling you, that one has people standing up and cheering.He wants to make changes in the 14th amendment so that that cannot happen. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, 8/17/15]

Fox's Todd Starnes: “Trump Puts Americans First, Not Illegals.” In an August 17 piece on Fox Nation, Fox News radio host Todd Starnes applauded Trump's immigration policy paper, saying that “Trump understands ... that the United States of America has been invaded by millions of illegals”:

What I'm about to tell you is politically incorrect, but it needs to be said. There's a reason why Donald Trump is smoking his Republican competition -- he wants to put Americans first, not the illegals.

Trump understands a fundamental truth - that the United States of America has been invaded by millions of illegals from Mexico and parts due south.

The illegals are pillaging and plundering our economy. They are raping and murdering our fellow countrymen. They have been given accommodation at the expense of the American taxpayer.

And yet our elected leaders in Congress and the White House have chosen to stand down as the sovereignty of our great nation has been violated.

So while the politicians and pundits have scampered away from the issue, Trump stepped up to the plate and offered a concise plan that would secure our border and restore our sovereignty. [Fox Nation, 8/17/15]