The Supreme Court and Trump: From Birthright to Presidential Power
6/30/202620 min
The Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s attempt to curtail birthright citizenship, rebuffing the administration’s plans to upend the longstanding guarantee that virtually everyone born on American soil is a U.S. citizen. WSJ’s James Romoser unpacks the unexpectedly close decision, and the other wins conservatives have had at the court over the past year. Jessica Mendoza hosts.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJessica Mendoza· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Today, on the final day of its term, the Supreme Court handed down a major ruling on birthright citizenship.
James Romoser· Guest0:12
[gentle music] The headline today is that the Supreme Court resoundingly rejected one of Donald Trump's most aggressive policy moves, his bid to curtail birthright citizenship.
Jessica Mendoza· Host0:27
That's our colleague, James Ramoser. He covers the Supreme Court. And why is this decision so important?
James Romoser· Guest0:34
Well, it's really important because if Trump had succeeded in ending the deep-rooted understanding of birthright citizenship, it would've transformed what it means to be a citizen in America, and it would've jeopardized the citizenship of hundreds of thousands- Hmm ... of future children born on American soil to undocumented immigrants or temporary visitors.
Jessica Mendoza· Host1:00
And it's quite a note to end on for this term. But when you look back on the Supreme Court term, which goes all the way back to October of last year, how would you describe it in a couple of words?
James Romoser· Guest1:10
[laughs] In a couple of words.
Jessica Mendoza· Host1:12
Couple sentences?
James Romoser· Guest1:13
[laughs] Um, frankly, it's one of the most historic and consequential terms that the Supreme Court has had in decades. The court's docket was dominated