Trump Signs Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship and U.S. Manufacturing, Vows Crackdown on ‘Birth Tourism’

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed sweeping new executive orders on birthright citizenship and U.S. manufacturing during an Oval Office ceremony, signaling a major shift in federal immigration enforcement and domestic industry protection. Joined by senior adviser Stephen Miller and White House official Will Sharf, the administration outlined aggressive measures to dismantle what they described as organized “birth tourism” rings, while simultaneously addressing pressing questions regarding domestic affordability, global munitions stockpiles, and international diplomacy.

The primary focus of the signing was a strict crackdown on birth tourism, which the President described as a “big business” that has made a “joke” out of the nation’s citizenship laws. Trump claimed the U.S. is virtually the only country of its size that offers birthright citizenship, a policy he argued was originally intended for the babies of slaves shortly after the Civil War, rather than for “wealthy multi-millionaires” and “billionaires” bringing large families into the country. Citing extreme examples of system abuse, he noted instances of individuals claiming 56 and 98 children. When asked about the scale of the issue—a question previously left unanswered by the solicitor general’s office—Trump estimated that “hundreds of thousands” take advantage of the system.

Defending the legality of the move following what Trump called a “bad” and “unfair” Supreme Court decision, Will Sharf cited Section 215A of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Sharf described the statute as one of the strongest, yet rarely used, laws in the federal code. He explained that the executive orders target “criminal rings” and “baby mills” by treating birth tourism as visa fraud. Under the new directives, consular officers will deny visas to putative parents and organizers whose true intent is to “mint an American citizen” rather than engage in legitimate tourism and commerce. Alongside these immigration measures, the executive orders also included provisions to strengthen protections for the U.S. polysilicon industry to bolster American manufacturing.

The press gaggle then shifted to domestic politics and upcoming elections. Trump dismissed reports that he had officially endorsed JD Vance for the 2028 presidential election, calling the speculation “way too early,” though he praised Vance as “great.” He also confirmed he would actively lobby undecided Republicans—specifically naming Senators Marowsky and Cassidy if necessary—to ensure the confirmation of Todd Blanch, whom he described as “outstanding.” On other political matters, Trump declined to weigh in on whether Representative Max Miller should withdraw from his upcoming race, calling it a “very sad situation.” Furthermore, he suggested that the Department of Justice should consider prosecuting Dr. Anthony Fauci, comparing his actions to the “far less serious” prosecutions of Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Addressing voter concerns over affordability ahead of the midterms, Trump argued that he inherited the worst inflation in history but noted that oil prices are rapidly dropping to $75 a barrel. He reminisced about gasoline prices falling to $1.85 or $1.95 a gallon in Iowa, predicting a return to those numbers. On foreign policy, Trump referenced an “excursion” involving the Islamic Republic of Iran to prevent the regime from obtaining nuclear weapons, which he warned would be globally catastrophic. Regarding the U.S. Navy’s blockade of strategic straits, he acknowledged the persistent threat of naval mines to billion-dollar vessels but expressed optimism that negotiations would soon resolve the standoff.

The President also pushed back against reports of U.S. munitions shortages, despite a pending $21 billion supplemental restocking request. Trump argued the U.S. has a “virtually unlimited supply” of certain powerful munitions and noted that defense contractors are currently building more plants for Patriots and Tomahawks than at any point in history. He criticized the previous administration for giving away $300 billion worth of stockpiles to Ukraine for free. While acknowledging Ukrainian President Zelensky’s requests for long-range missiles and Patriot batteries, Trump emphasized that the U.S. must prioritize rebuilding its own reserves, stating, “we want missiles, too.”

Concluding the wide-ranging session, Trump offered a grim assessment of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, estimating that 25,000 young soldiers are killed every month. Describing it as a “violent” war fueled by deep hatred between the two leaders, Trump noted that while he has successfully settled eight wars in the past, this conflict has proven to be the “most difficult.” Nevertheless, he maintained that progress toward a resolution is currently being made.