Fact Check: Did Trump sign a law that automatically marries unwed couples after 5 years?
WASHINGTON, DC: Since reclaiming the White House, President Donald Trump has launched a rapid wave of legislative actions, signing a series of new laws in quick succession.
However, the 79-year-old president’s law-signing spree hasn’t only sparked backlash from rivals, it has also fueled the rumor mill, churning out outlandish claims.
One such rumor now alleges that Trump has signed a new law set to take effect on August 1, 2025, which automatically recognizes couples who have been in a relationship for five years as legally married.
The rumor has taken the internet by storm, but is there any truth to it, or is it just another case of trumped-up online gossip? Let’s unpack the full story below.
Claim: Trump signed a law that automatically marries unwed couples after 5 years
The whispers turned into headline-grabbing rumors after a Facebook post went viral with a caption reading, "Trump just signed a bill effective Aug. 1. If u have been in a relationship for 5 years, you are legally married #cc."
Similar claims were made in a TikTok video, which stated, "Trump announced You are legally married if you are in a relationship for 5+ years."
The TikTok post has reached over 2.4 million views and 314,300 reactions at the time of writing.
The rumor has spread across multiple social media platforms, including Threads, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit.
@jshaw.3 Even if this ain’t true.. I like it 😂 trump said stop all that playing 😂😂 #fyp #yapping #trump ♬ original sound - J
Fact Check: False, no credible evidence to back the viral claim
The viral posts have taken the internet by storm, but unsurprisingly, the claims made by users are completely false.
According to fact-checking forum Snopes, no such law exists, nor has there been any credible indication that Donald Trump was even considering such legislation as of July 2025. Moreover, no reliable news sources, government platforms, or official statements from Trump have supported the claim.
A thorough search of the White House website also revealed no references to “marriage” between mid-June and mid-July 2025.
However, the outlandish rumor appears to have originated from a misunderstanding of common law marriage, a legal concept recognized in several US states.
The common law marriage system, recognized in eight states including Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Texas, and Utah, allows couples to be legally recognized as married without a formal ceremony or marriage license, provided they meet specific criteria, such as living together and presenting themselves publicly as husband and wife.
Notably, common law marriage does not force individuals into marriage; rather, it simply offers legal recognition and protections to couples who meet certain voluntary conditions.
