CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers raised eyebrows Tuesday night when he suggested that the citizenship status of some of President Donald Trump’s children should be reviewed—citing the Trump administration’s aggressive approach toward denaturalization.
Sellers made the remarks during a panel discussion on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip, which focused on a recent Department of Justice memo ordering U.S. attorneys to aggressively pursue the revocation of U.S. citizenship from naturalized citizens who commit certain crimes.
Sellers criticized the policy as overly harsh and discriminatory and questioned why similar scrutiny hasn’t been directed at the Trump family.
“If we want to have a conversation about who belongs where, when, how—and whether or not their citizenship status should be reviewed—I would look at Donald Trump Jr., I would look at all of Melania’s kids, all of Ivana’s kids,” Sellers said. “Let’s just have a full conversation about all of it. Why is that not on the table?”
He added jokingly, “The only person here should be Tiffany Trump, if we’re going to have this discussion.”
Trump’s Family Background
Former First Lady Melania Trump was born in Slovenia and became a U.S. citizen in 2006. Ivana Trump, Donald Trump’s first wife and the mother of Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, was born in the former Czechoslovakia and became a U.S. citizen in 1988. Trump’s second wife, Marla Maples, is a U.S.-born citizen and mother of Tiffany Trump. His youngest son, Barron Trump, is Melania’s child.
All of Trump’s children—Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, Tiffany, and Barron—were born in the United States, making them U.S. citizens by birth.
DOJ Memo Focuses on National Security
The Justice Department memo at the center of the debate, dated June 11, was issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate. It instructs federal prosecutors to prioritize denaturalization cases involving national security concerns, including links to terrorism, espionage, or serious human rights violations.
“The benefits of civil denaturalization include the ability to revoke citizenship from individuals who committed war crimes, engaged in terrorism, or pose an ongoing threat to U.S. security,” the memo states.
The Trump administration has defended the move as part of a broader effort to protect national interests and tighten immigration enforcement.
Sellers’ comments sparked strong reactions on social media, with critics accusing him of making unfair insinuations and supporters saying he was calling out perceived hypocrisy in immigration enforcement.
