Former MSNBC host Joy Reid has dropped a bombshell by suggesting that even First Lady Melania Trump could face deportation under sweeping new presidential powers.
Breitbart reported that on her show, The Joy Reid Show, Reid stirred up a firestorm by discussing the potential for a president to strip citizenship and deport naturalized Americans like Melania Trump over mere personal or political grudges, as part of a broader conversation on immigration policy with Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Reid didn’t hold back, pointing out that Melania, born in Slovenia and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, could theoretically be targeted under such unchecked authority.
It’s a wild claim, and while it’s rooted in a recent Justice Department memo about denaturalization discretion for certain crimes, as reported by the Daily Beast, it feels like a stretch to drag the First Lady into this.
Let’s unpack this with a clear head, because the idea of weaponizing citizenship against anyone—let alone Melania—should raise eyebrows on both sides of the aisle.
During the segment, Reid painted a dystopian picture of a president wielding “monarchical-like powers” to revoke citizenship at will. She mused about a future Democratic leader deciding they dislike Melania’s background and saying, in essence, “she’s outta here.” If that doesn’t sound like a dangerous overreach of executive power, what does?
Reid’s exact words were chilling: “I don’t like Melania Trump. She wasn’t born here.” While her point may be to highlight the risks of broad denaturalization policies, using the First Lady as a hypothetical target feels like a cheap shot at a family that’s already under constant scrutiny.
Let’s be real—Reid’s argument hinges on a slippery slope that conservatives have long warned against when it comes to government overreach.
The idea that any president could strip citizenship based on a whim is the kind of authoritarian fantasy that should alarm every American, regardless of political affiliation. It’s not about Melania; it’s about the principle.
Reid didn’t stop at Melania, though—she also brought up the late Ivana Trump, noting she wasn’t a U.S. citizen and is buried at Donald Trump’s golf club in New Jersey. This detour into family history seems more like a jab than a policy critique. How does this even advance the immigration debate?
She went further, suggesting that Ivana’s children—Don Jr., Eric, and Ivanka—could also be targeted for denaturalization by a vindictive future president.
Reid’s speculation here feels less like analysis and more like a political hit job dressed up as concern. Conservatives might see this as just another example of the left’s obsession with tearing down the Trump family at every turn.
Reid doubled down, saying a future leader could decide they “don’t like the Trumps” and strip their citizenship. It’s a provocative thought, but let’s not pretend this is a serious policy proposal—it’s fear-mongering with a partisan twist. The Trump family has endured enough public flak without being used as pawns in hypothetical nightmares.
At the core of Reid’s comments is a Justice Department memo, recently highlighted by the Daily Beast, which reportedly grants U.S. Attorneys discretion to pursue denaturalization in cases involving specific crimes.
That’s a far cry from the free-for-all Reid describes, where personal grudges could lead to deportation. Misrepresenting the scope of this policy only muddies the waters on an already complex issue.
Immigration policy is a lightning rod, and conservatives often argue for stricter enforcement, but even they would balk at the idea of citizenship being revoked over mere disagreements.
The memo’s focus on criminal behavior is a targeted tool, not a blank check for presidential vendettas. Reid’s exaggeration risks turning a legitimate debate into a circus.
Instead of focusing on real policy challenges, Reid’s rhetoric veers into personal territory by dragging Melania and the Trump children into the fray. It’s a classic progressive tactic—use emotional storytelling to push an agenda—but it distracts from the need for sober discussion on immigration reform. Americans deserve better than shock-value hypotheticals.
The immigration system needs serious reform, but using the Trump family as a boogeyman in this debate is neither constructive nor fair. Reid’s comments, while perhaps intended to warn against policy overreach, come off as a partisan swipe that undermines her credibility. It’s time to focus on real solutions, not wild “what if” scenarios.