Fact-Check: Ivana Trump’s Citizenship Status and Her Children’s Birthright Citizenship
What We Know
The claim states that Ivana Trump was not an American citizen until 1988 and that she gave birth to Donald Trump Jr. in 1977, Ivanka in 1981, and Eric in 1984.
- Citizenship Timeline: Ivana Trump, born in Czechoslovakia, became a U.S. citizen in 1988 after marrying Donald Trump in 1977. Before that, she was legally residing in the United States but was not a citizen (Wikipedia).
- Birth Dates of Children: Donald Trump Jr. was born on December 31, 1977, Ivanka on October 30, 1981, and Eric on January 6, 1984. All three children were born in New York City, which grants them U.S. citizenship by birthright under the 14th Amendment (AP News, Congress.gov).
- Birthright Citizenship: According to the 14th Amendment, all individuals born in the U.S. are citizens, regardless of their parents' citizenship status (Reuters). Therefore, even though Ivana was not a U.S. citizen at the time of their births, her children automatically received citizenship because they were born in the U.S.
Analysis
The claim is substantiated by multiple reliable sources. The timeline of Ivana Trump's citizenship and her children's birth dates are consistent across various reports.
- Source Reliability: The information from the Associated Press is particularly credible, as it is a well-established news organization known for its fact-checking initiatives. The Wikipedia entry provides a comprehensive overview of Ivana Trump's life, including her immigration status, which aligns with the claim.
- Legal Context: The legal framework regarding birthright citizenship is clearly articulated in the 14th Amendment, which has been upheld by numerous court rulings. This legal backing reinforces the claim that Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric are U.S. citizens by birth, regardless of their mother's citizenship status at the time of their births (Reuters).
- Contradicting Claims: Some discussions have arisen regarding the implications of Trump's proposals to end birthright citizenship. However, these discussions do not affect the factual basis of the claim regarding Ivana's citizenship status and her children's citizenship (FactCheck.org, WRAL).
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Ivana Trump was not an American citizen until 1988 and that she gave birth to Donald Trump Jr. in 1977, Ivanka in 1981, and Eric in 1984 is accurate. All three children were born in the United States, making them U.S. citizens by birthright, irrespective of their mother's citizenship status at the time of their births.
Sources
- President Trump's first 3 children did not receive birthright ...
- AP News: Mixture. It's true that Ivana Trump was not a citizen until 1988...
- Reuters: Trump's birthright citizenship ban will not ...
- Wikipedia: Ivana Trump
- WRAL: Fact check: Would Trump's immigration plan affect his own ...
- Independent: Secret FBI files reveal questions over Ivana Trump’s ...
- FactCheck.org: Posts Falsely Question Citizenship of Trump's Children ...
- FactCheck.org: A Misleading Take on the Trump Family's Citizenship