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Trump Vows Mass Deportations, Ending Birthright Citizenship, Jan. 6 Pardons; Considers Exiting NATO

Dec 8, 2024, 05:20 PM

In his first interview since being re-elected, President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his hardline immigration policies, pledging to deport all undocumented immigrants over his four-year term and to end birthright citizenship. Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Kristen Welker, Trump stated his intention to issue executive orders on his first day in office to revoke birthright citizenship, despite the constitutional challenges posed by the 14th Amendment. "Well, we're going to have it changed. We have to end it," he remarked when questioned about the constitutional barrier. Trump emphasized his plan for mass deportations, including potentially deporting U.S. citizens who have undocumented parents, as a means to keep families 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. He also reiterated his promise to pardon those convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack on his first day in office, asserting that they have faced "overly harsh treatment." Additionally, Trump criticized the House select committee investigating the insurrection, suggesting that its members "should go to jail" for their actions. On foreign policy, Trump signaled possible shifts, confirming he would "absolutely" consider exiting NATO.