Trump’s Citizenship Threats: A Legal and Political Firestorm

In the summer of 2025, a political storm erupted when President Donald Trump suggested he might strip U.S. citizenship from two prominent figures: Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, and Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX.

These threats, made amid heated political disputes, have ignited a fierce debate about the limits of executive power, the sanctity of U.S. citizenship, and the role of identity in American politics. As the nation grapples with these unprecedented statements, the controversy raises critical questions about legal feasibility, political motivations, and the broader implications for civil rights.

The Spark of Controversy

Trump’s Provocative Statements

On July 1, 2025, during a press conference in South Florida, President Trump escalated his attacks on Zohran Mamdani, falsely claiming, “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally. We’re going to look at everything” (The New York Times, July 1, 2025). He also threatened to arrest Mamdani if he interfered with ICE deportation operations in New York City, where Mamdani has pledged to protect residents from such actions (The Guardian, July 1, 2025). Separately, Trump targeted Elon Musk, suggesting that without government subsidies, Musk might have to “close up shop and head back home to South Africa” (Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025). When pressed about deporting Musk, Trump responded ambiguously, “We’ll have to take a look” (Time, July 5, 2025).

Republican Push for Denaturalization

The rhetoric was amplified by Republican Representative Andy Ogles, who wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi on June 26, 2025, requesting a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into Mamdani’s naturalization. Ogles alleged that Mamdani concealed support for “terrorism” during his 2018 citizenship application, citing lyrics from a rap song (“Free the Holy Land Five / My guys”) and his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” (Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025). The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, indicated that if Ogles’s claims were true, they warranted investigation (Semafor, June 30, 2025). The New York Young Republican Club and other far-right groups have also called for Mamdani’s deportation, invoking Red Scare-era tactics (The Independent, June 27, 2025).

Profiles of the Targeted

Zohran Mamdani: A Progressive Trailblazer

• Background: Born in Kampala, Uganda, to ethnic Indian parents, Mamdani moved to New York City at age 7 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018. His parents are prominent figures—his father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a Columbia University professor, and his mother, Mira Nair, is an acclaimed filmmaker (The Guardian, July 1, 2025).
• Political Rise: Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020, Mamdani stunned the political establishment by defeating Andrew Cuomo in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary (The Washington Post, July 1, 2025).
• Platform: Advocates for free public transit, rent freezes, and taxing the wealthy, while his vocal support for Palestinian rights has drawn both praise and criticism (BBC, June 25, 2025).
• Response to Threats: Mamdani condemned Trump’s remarks as an attack on democracy, stating on X, “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported. Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city” (The Washington Post, July 1, 2025).

Elon Musk: The Controversial Innovator

• Background: Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk moved to Canada at 17 and became a U.S. citizen in 2002, also retaining Canadian citizenship. He started his U.S. career on a J-1 visa before transitioning to an H-1B (Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025).
• Business Ventures: As CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, Musk has been a key figure in American innovation but has clashed with Trump over policies like the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which ended $7,500 electric vehicle tax credits (Time, July 5, 2025).
• Political Tensions: Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s spending bill and his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) until May 30, 2025, have strained their relationship (The Guardian, July 3, 2025).

The Legal Framework of Denaturalization

What Is Denaturalization?

Denaturalization is the process of revoking U.S. citizenship from naturalized citizens. It is governed by strict legal standards, requiring proof that citizenship was obtained through:

• Fraud, misrepresentation, or illegal procurement during the naturalization process.
• Serious crimes such as terrorism, war crimes, or human rights violations (Time, July 5, 2025).

Historical Context

• Early 20th Century: Denaturalization was used during the Red Scares (1917–1920, 1947–1957) to target communists and Nazi sympathizers, with approximately 22,000 cases before 1967 (Time, July 5, 2025).
• Notable Cases: Emma Goldman, an anarchist, was denaturalized in 1919 and deported to Soviet Russia, while Paul Knauer, a Nazi sympathizer, lost citizenship in 1946 (Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025).
• 1967 Supreme Court Ruling: The Afroyim v. Rusk case established that citizenship cannot be involuntarily revoked without proof of fraud or serious misconduct, significantly limiting denaturalization (Time, July 5, 2025).

Trump’s Denaturalization Push

• First Term Efforts: Trump’s administration nearly doubled the annual denaturalization cases compared to Obama’s, creating a dedicated Denaturalization Section in 2020 (Time, July 5, 2025).
• June 11 Memo: A DOJ memo prioritized denaturalization for cases involving illegal procurement or concealment of material facts, criticized for lowering the burden of proof (Justice Department, June 11, 2025).
• Recent Example: Elliott Duke, a UK citizen, was denaturalized in June 2025 for not disclosing child pornography crimes during his 2013 naturalization (Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025).

Legal Feasibility

Legal experts argue that denaturalizing Mamdani or Musk is unlikely without concrete evidence of fraud. Michael Kagan, a law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, stated, “Denaturalisation is limited to cases where the government can prove material fraud in their original applications. It is rare and unlikely for either Musk or Mamdani” (Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025). Even if denaturalized, Mamdani would revert to green card status, not automatic deportation (Time, July 5, 2025).

Political and Social Reactions

Support for Trump’s Threats

• Republican Voices: Figures like Rudy Giuliani have called Mamdani a “traitor,” supporting denaturalization, though acknowledging legal hurdles (World Socialist Web Site, June 28, 2025).
• Far-Right Groups: The New York Young Republican Club and others have demanded Mamdani’s removal, framing it as a return to McCarthy-era vigilance (The Independent, June 27, 2025).

Opposition and Criticism

• Democratic Leaders: Senator Chris Murphy labeled the threats against Mamdani “racist bullshit,” highlighting their discriminatory undertones (The Guardian, July 1, 2025).
• Progressive Groups: Organizations like Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) have rallied behind Mamdani, calling the attacks Islamophobic and politically motivated (BBC, June 25, 2025).
• Media Commentary: Justice Malala, in The Guardian, called Trump’s threat to deport Musk “sickening,” arguing it weaponizes citizenship against dissent (The Guardian, July 3, 2025).

Public Discourse

The controversy has fueled polarized debates on social media, with X posts ranging from accusations of Mamdani’s “disloyalty” to defenses of his right to free speech (X Post ID: 1938301392416084150). Musk’s situation has drawn less public attention but has raised concerns among business leaders about political retaliation (The New York Times, July 1, 2025).

Broader Implications

Constitutional Concerns

The threats raise significant concerns about the Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. Legal scholars warn that a conservative-leaning Supreme Court might defer to executive authority, potentially weakening protections for naturalized citizens (Los Angeles Times, June 26, 2025).

Impact on Immigration Policy

• Targeting Naturalized Citizens: The focus on denaturalization could intimidate the 25 million naturalized U.S. citizens, who make up 7% of the population (Time, July 5, 2025).
• Political Precedent: Using citizenship as a political weapon could set a dangerous precedent, particularly for politically active immigrants (The New Yorker, July 2025).

New York City’s Mayoral Race

Mamdani’s candidacy, already controversial due to his progressive policies and Palestinian advocacy, faces increased scrutiny. The threats could either galvanize his base or alienate undecided voters, impacting the 2025 election (The Washington Post, July 1, 2025).

Video Support

For a deeper understanding of the controversy surrounding Mamdani’s citizenship, watch this video from N18G: Can US Strip Zohran Mamdani’s Citizenship As Trump, Republicans Ramp Up Attack? | 4K Video | N18G

Table: Key Stakeholders and Perspectives

Stakeholder	Position	Source
Donald Trump	Threatens to arrest Mamdani and deport Musk, questions their citizenship	The New York Times, July 1, 2025; Time, July 5, 2025
Andy Ogles	Requests DOJ probe into Mamdani’s naturalization, cites terrorism support	Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025
Zohran Mamdani	Condemns threats as an attack on democracy, vows to protect NYC residents	The Washington Post, July 1, 2025
Elon Musk	Faces threats over tax credit disputes, no direct response to citizenship	The Guardian, July 3, 2025
Michael Kagan	Argues denaturalization is unlikely without fraud evidence	Al Jazeera, July 2, 2025
Chris Murphy	Calls threats against Mamdani “racist bullshit”	The Guardian, July 1, 2025
Rudy Giuliani	Supports Mamdani’s denaturalization, calls him a “traitor”	World Socialist Web Site, June 28, 2025

Conclusion

The threats to strip citizenship from Zohran Mamdani and Elon Musk represent a bold and controversial use of executive rhetoric. While the legal grounds for denaturalization are narrow, requiring proof of fraud or serious crimes, the political motivations behind these statements are clear. They target two figures who challenge the administration—Mamdani through his progressive policies and Musk through his economic influence. As the courts, public, and political landscape respond, this controversy will test the boundaries of citizenship protections and the resilience of American democracy.