Former MSNBC host Joy Reid suggested that First Lady Melania Trump could be deported under a new Department of Justice memo allowing U.S. Attorneys discretion in pursuing denaturalization cases. Reid made the claim during an appearance on The Joy Reid Show while speaking with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), asserting that the policy gives presidents unchecked authority to revoke citizenship.
Reid speculated that if such powers are accepted, a future Democratic president could target Melania Trump, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Slovenia. She argued that political motives could justify stripping her of citizenship and deporting her. Reid said, “She is a naturalized citizen. She’s outta here,” using the example to highlight what she sees as the danger of the DOJ’s guidance.
Her comments extended to the late Ivana Trump, who she claimed was not a U.S. citizen and therefore could have had her children’s citizenship challenged. “Maybe the next Democratic president says, ‘I don’t like the Trumps… we’re gonna denaturalize all of the Trump children,’” Reid added.
The Justice Department memo Reid referenced allows U.S. Attorneys to initiate denaturalization against individuals who commit certain crimes tied to fraud or national security threats. It does not permit presidents to unilaterally revoke citizenship or deport individuals without cause or legal process. Reid’s interpretation of the policy was widely criticized as misleading and inflammatory.
Melania Trump became a U.S. citizen in 2006 after legally immigrating to the country in the 1990s. No public information or allegations suggest she committed fraud or criminal acts that would make her eligible for denaturalization.
Reid’s remarks drew backlash from conservative commentators, who called the statement paranoid and legally unfounded. Critics argue that weaponizing immigration status for political retaliation undermines constitutional protections and further erodes public trust in civil discourse.
The DOJ’s memo does not change existing law but clarifies prosecutorial discretion in rare cases where fraud or terrorism-related offenses are involved. Deporting a naturalized citizen without due process remains unconstitutional.
