By Shah J. Choudhury
In a move that has reignited debate over immigration and naturalized citizenship, former U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that he would seek to revoke the American citizenship of two high-profile figures: tech magnate Elon Musk and New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.
The remarks, made during a campaign appearance, have drawn sharp reactions from immigrant communities, legal experts, and political observers alike.
Who are Musk and Mamdani?
Zohran Mamdani, 33, was born in Kampala, Uganda, and moved to New York as a child. In 2018, he became a U.S. citizen through naturalization. He is now a prominent progressive voice in the New York State Assembly and has gained national attention for his left-leaning politics.
Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Tesla and SpaceX, was born in Pretoria, South Africa. He became a Canadian citizen before immigrating to the United States and obtaining citizenship in 2002. Musk is one of the world’s wealthiest and most controversial public figures.
What are the allegations?
Some Trump-aligned lawmakers have accused Mamdani of concealing information during his naturalization process and making statements that allegedly support anti-American causes or extremist groups—though no concrete evidence of wrongdoing has been presented so far.
Regarding Musk, Trump recently quipped, “We’ll send him back to his country,” in what appeared to be more of a rhetorical jab than a concrete policy proposal.
What does the law say?
Under U.S. law, revoking naturalized citizenship—also known as denaturalization—is extremely rare and requires proof that the person obtained citizenship through fraud or misrepresentation, or engaged in human rights violations, terrorism, or activities against U.S. interests.
According to Michael Kagan, a legal scholar at Queens College, “The legal threshold is very high. This seems more like political theater than a realistic legal action.”
Politics or policy?
Analysts say Trump is once again using the immigration issue to energize his core voter base ahead of the presidential election. Immigration and skepticism of naturalized citizens have been key elements of his political platform for years.
However, his comments have created unease among immigrants, with one New York resident saying, “It makes you feel like you’re never truly secure here, no matter how long you’ve lived or how much you’ve contributed.”
Conclusion
Legally, the chances of Trump actually stripping Musk or Mamdani of their U.S. citizenship are slim to none. But politically, the controversy may serve his campaign narrative and further polarize public opinion ahead of the election.
