Trump invokes 'babies of slaves' in warning to Supreme Court ahead of birthright citizenship ruling

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, May 21, openly challenged the Supreme Court ahead of its expected ruling on his controversial birthright citizenship order, warning the justices not to side against his administration in what could become one of the defining legal battles of his second term.

Speaking during a White House press interaction, Trump argued the United States has interpreted citizenship laws too loosely for decades and claimed that the current system is being exploited in ways never intended by the Constitution.

Trump blasts 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause

As he discussed the pending case, Trump repeatedly argued the United States is out of step with the rest of the world on citizenship laws.

“This decision by the Supreme Court is a very big one,” Trump said, before predicting the justices could still rule against him. “They’ll probably go against me because they seem to like doing that.”

“We’re the only country in the world that has it,” he claimed. “You step into our country and all of a sudden you’re a citizen.”

The president also insisted the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause was never meant to apply to modern immigration patterns.

“This was not meant for Chinese billionaires to have their children become citizens of our country,” Trump said. “This was meant for the babies of slaves.”

At another point, Trump warned the current interpretation of birthright citizenship could create massive long-term consequences for immigration and federal spending.

“You’ll have 20 to 25% of the people coming into our country coming in through birthright citizenship,” he said. “And we won’t have any control.”

Trump blasts court before ruling 

The president did not hold back while discussing what a ruling against him would mean politically.

“It would be a disgrace if the Supreme Court of the United States allows that to happen,” Trump declared.

He also tied the issue to his complaints about the judiciary, referencing recent court rulings on tariffs and accusing judges of undermining his economic agenda.

“They’ve done a great disservice to the United States of America,” Trump said, arguing courts have repeatedly interfered with policies he says are benefiting the country.

The case is expected to test both presidential authority and the constitutional limits of executive action on immigration.

Civil rights groups and Democratic-led states challenging the order argue that the 14th Amendment clearly guarantees citizenship to nearly anyone born on American soil.

Trump and his allies, meanwhile, insist the amendment has been stretched far beyond its original meaning.