President-elect Trump affirms mass deportations, end to birthright citizenship
Story by Victor Itodo ABUH
In his first televised interview since his re-election, United States President-elect Donald Trump reaffirms his commitment to mass deportations, ending birthright citizenship, and imposing tariffs to boost the U.S. economy.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Trump emphasised his stance on immigration and trade policies while outlining his broader agenda.
“I think you have to do it, and it’s a very tough thing to do, but you have rules, regulations, laws. They came in illegally,” Trump said, reiterating his promise to deport everyone who entered the U.S. without authorisation.
He added, “The people who have been treated unfairly are the people who have been waiting in line for ten years to come into the country.”
While expressing a willingness to work with Democrats to address the fate of “Dreamers”—undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children—Trump suggested families of undocumented immigrants could face deportation together.
“I don’t want to be breaking up families. So the only way you don’t break up the family is you keep them together and you have to send them all back,” he stated.
Trump also doubles down on ending birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, and considers “executive action” as a possible route, calling the right “ridiculous.”
On economic policies, Trump defends his plan to impose tariffs on Canada, China, and Mexico, despite potential price increases.
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“I’m a big believer in tariffs. Tariffs are beautiful. They’re going to make us rich,” he said, arguing they would ultimately strengthen the U.S. economy.
Turning to foreign policy, Trump signals a pivot in U.S. support for Ukraine, hinting at reduced aid as Kyiv prepares for less financial assistance. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, the U.S. has provided nearly $183 billion in aid to Ukraine.
Outgoing President Joe Biden has pledged additional funds before his departure in January. Trump, however, insists on pushing for an end to the war, avoiding direct comments about recent interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I don’t want to say anything that could impede the negotiation,” he said.
Trump also warns NATO allies to “pay their bills” and treat the U.S. more fairly in bilateral trade. He claims his continued leadership after 2020 could have prevented the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Regarding domestic matters, Trump is considering pardoning individuals sentenced for the January 6 Capitol riots. “I’m going to look at everything. We’ll look at individual cases, but I’m going to be acting very quickly… the first day,” he said, describing conditions in their prisons as “filthy” and “disgusting.”
In the same interview, Trump criticizes lawmakers involved in the January 6 investigation, suggesting they should face imprisonment, and supports potential investigations into the “deep state.”
However, he avoids confirming plans to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate President Biden. “Retribution will be through success,” he concludes, positioning his policies as a pathway to a revitalized America.
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