In this episode, Richard Epstein and Martha Jones discuss the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Trump v. Barbara, which struck down President Trump’s Executive Order on birthright citizenship. At issue in the case was whether the Constitution guarantees citizenship to children born to parents unlawfully or temporarily present in the United States. The Court concluded that it did. Thomas Donnelly, lead scholar at the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Resources

Trump v. Barbara (2026)
Brief of Amicus Curiae Professor Richard A. Epstein
Brief of Historians Martha S. Jones and Kate Masur as Amici Curiae
“Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order in landmark decision,” Scott Bomboy for the National Constitution Center’s Constitution Daily Blog
“In birthright citizenship opinions, a major constitutional disagreement,” Marcia Coyle for the National Constitution Center’s Constitution Daily Blog
United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), National Constitution Center
The Citizenship Clause, National Constitution Center

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