Barron Trump Nationality Crisis! New Republican Bill Forces First Family to "Choose One"

Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno this week introduced the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025,” requiring dual citizens to renounce their foreign citizenship within one year and swear “exclusive allegiance” to the United States, or else automatically lose their U.S. citizenship. This bill would directly impact First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron Trump, both of whom hold dual U.S. and Slovenian citizenship.

Radical Provisions and Enforcement Mechanism of the Moreno Bill

(Source: U.S. Senate website)

On December 1, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno shared his radical plan, titled the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025,” which would force anyone with dual citizenship to choose between the two countries. “No individual may be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship,” the bill states. “Any U.S. citizen who voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship after the enactment of this bill shall be deemed to have relinquished U.S. citizenship.”

Moreno was born in Colombia and became a U.S. citizen at age 18. “Swearing allegiance to the United States of America, and only to the United States of America, is an honor,” Moreno said in a press release. “Becoming a U.S. citizen is an honor and a privilege—if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship once and for all.”

Under Moreno’s bill, the Department of Homeland Security and State Department would enforce the law. Dual citizens would be flagged in the system and given one year to renounce their foreign citizenship or U.S. citizenship. Anyone not in compliance after a year would automatically lose U.S. citizenship and be registered as a non-citizen. Such a mandatory choice mechanism is extremely rare in U.S. history, and its implementation would affect millions of Americans.

Core Provisions of the Moreno Bill

One-Year Deadline: Dual citizens must choose within one year of the bill’s enactment

Automatic Revocation: Non-compliant individuals will automatically lose U.S. citizenship

Enforcement Agencies: Department of Homeland Security and State Department to identify and enforce

Retroactive Effect: Current dual citizens must also comply with the new rules

These strict provisions reflect Moreno’s hardline stance. As a naturalized citizen who chose to renounce his Colombian citizenship at 18, he believes all Americans should make the same choice. However, this personal experience does not represent the circumstances of all dual citizens. Many people retain dual citizenship for family, work, or cultural reasons, and forcing them to give up one may cause severe personal and economic hardship.

The proposal would strip Melania and Barron Trump of their Slovenian citizenship, causing an awkward situation for a political family that often uses nationalist rhetoric but quietly maintains global ties. Melania moved to the U.S. in 1996 and is the only First Lady to have become a naturalized citizen. She obtained citizenship in 2006, and according to Mary Jordan’s 2020 book about the former model, “The Art of Her Deal,” both she and her 19-year-old son Barron Trump remain dual citizens of the U.S. and Slovenia.

Barron Trump’s Slovenian Passport and European Freedom

For the First Lady, it was crucial that Barron Trump speak Slovenian and hold both a Slovenian and a U.S. passport, Jordan writes. “Trump would complain to others that he didn’t know what they were saying,” the book notes. This detail reveals the cultural differences within the Trump family, as Melania insisted Barron maintain his connection to Slovenia, something Trump himself found confusing or even frustrating.

In an interview, Jordan noted that dual citizenship allowed Barron Trump “more freedom to work throughout Europe.” The author said, “So if he wants to set up a Trump.org branch in Paris or Slovenia, it’s much easier for him, and gives him more options.” This highlights the practical benefits of dual citizenship, especially for a family like the Trumps with global business interests.

A Slovenian passport, as an EU member state passport, allows holders to freely work, live, and travel throughout the EU without needing visas or work permits. For a young person like Barron Trump, who may pursue business in Europe, this freedom is highly valuable. If forced to give up Slovenian citizenship, he would lose this convenience and face complex visa and work permit processes for business in Europe.

Melania’s insistence on Barron speaking Slovenian also demonstrates her emphasis on cultural roots. Many immigrant parents want their children to maintain ties to their homeland, learn the language, and understand family history. This cultural identity does not diminish loyalty to the U.S., but rather enriches one’s global perspective and understanding. Requiring the renunciation of a second citizenship could be seen as a rejection of such cultural diversity.

From a business perspective, the Trump family’s global business network could benefit from dual citizenship. The Trump Organization has real estate projects and brand licensing deals in multiple countries. Dual citizenship makes it easier for family members to handle cross-border business, whether signing contracts, managing assets, or attending business events. Losing Slovenian citizenship would reduce this convenience.

Constitutional Challenge and Bill Outlook

Moreno’s plan will likely face obstacles—under the Fourteenth Amendment, U.S. citizens “cannot lose their citizenship unless they voluntarily relinquish it.” This is one of the most fundamental protections of citizenship under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court has confirmed this principle in several cases, including Afroyim v. Rusk in 1967 and Vance v. Terrazas in 1980.

Afroyim v. Rusk set a key precedent, ruling that Congress cannot strip citizens of their nationality through legislation unless the citizen voluntarily and explicitly intends to relinquish it. In that case, the plaintiff lost his citizenship after voting in Israel, but the Supreme Court held that such action was unconstitutional. This precedent directly applies to Moreno’s bill, as it attempts to force dual citizens to choose, violating the principle of voluntariness.

For decades, the courts have recognized the right to dual citizenship, and any attempt to prohibit it has proven a legal dead end. The U.S. State Department’s official policy also recognizes the legitimacy of dual citizenship, though it does not encourage it. It is estimated that millions of Americans hold dual or multiple citizenships, including many government officials, business leaders, and ordinary citizens.

However, even though the bill stands little chance of becoming law, the situation has taken an odd twist. A proposal seemingly aimed at unknown dual citizens has ended up drawing the First Lady and her teenage son Barron Trump into a nationwide debate over what it means to truly be American. The White House and First Lady’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the legislation, nor did they address whether Melania and Barron Trump would support a law directly affecting their own citizenship.

Moreno’s proposal comes as Republicans are pushing hard for tougher immigration policies, following a Thanksgiving shooting in Washington, D.C., in which two National Guard soldiers were shot—Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was killed and Air Force Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was wounded. The suspect, Rahmanullah Rakhanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. during the chaotic withdrawal. The shooting has fueled calls for stricter regulations, with Trump calling for a crackdown.

Moreno is eager to position himself as one of the toughest voices in the Senate on immigration, clearly trying to ride the wave. However, from a political calculation standpoint, introducing a bill that directly affects the president’s family may not be wise. If Trump publicly opposes the bill, Moreno will face pressure within the party; if Trump supports it, he would have to ask his own wife and son to give up their Slovenian citizenship, which is equally awkward politically.

A Comprehensive Loyalty Test and Practical Impact

A sweeping Republican loyalty test has suddenly struck a nerve, with Melania and Barron Trump finding themselves at the center of the dual citizenship debate. The GOP’s new push against “divided loyalties” carries particular significance for Trump. Moreno frames his bill as a test of patriotic loyalty, insisting that Americans should be loyal to only one country and viewing dual citizenship as a risk to national unity.

This “all or nothing” logic is popular among immigration hardliners, but faces many legal and practical problems. First, it assumes that citizenship and loyalty are directly correlated, while in reality many dual citizens are no less loyal to the U.S. than single-nationality citizens. Second, it ignores the practical needs of transnational families and careers in a globalized era. Third, it could undermine U.S. international competitiveness, as many highly skilled immigrants may opt for other countries rather than give up their original citizenship.

If the bill were to pass (though the likelihood is extremely low), it would affect millions of Americans. This includes Europeans working in the U.S., Latin American immigrants, Asian immigrants, and Americans married to foreign nationals. Many countries allow their citizens to retain their nationality even after acquiring another; mandatory renunciation may require lengthy bureaucracy and high fees.