Mike Johnson: 14th Amendment ‘devalued’ by ‘birthright tourism’

House Mike Johnson: 14th Amendment ‘devalued’ by ‘birthright tourism’ Comments: by Ryan Mancini - 07/05/26 1:07 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Ryan Mancini - 07/05/26 1:07 PM ET Comments: Link copied

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Sunday said “birthright tourism” has “devalued” the 14th Amendment after President Trump called on Congress to tackle the issue of birthright citizenship following the Supreme Court’s recent decision.

Johnson praised Justice Clarence Thomas’s dissent against the high court’s opinion that it would not rule on Trump’s executive order to limit birthright citizenship to being born to at least one parent who is a citizen or to parents with lawful status. The majority said it would require an amendment to the Constitution.

“And [Thomas] explained that the 14th Amendment, the original intent, was to enhance and really value citizenship,” Johnson told host Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday.” “And it’s been devalued because of birthright tourism, which is what we have now. It’s a threat to the rule of law and national security. We do need to address it.”

Johnson paraphrased Thomas, who wrote in his dissent: “I am not sure that today’s opinion will stand the test of time. The Citizenship Clause ‘added greatly to the dignity and glory of American citizenship.’ Today’s opinion devalues that citizenship.”

Johnson said if there is a bill that can “fix” the amendment, Congress will “advance that immediately.” But he added that if it means passing and ratifying a constitutional amendment, it will take more time.

“It is quite a process, and it isn’t often done,” he added.

Trump relented to the high court’s ruling last week and called on Congress to act.

“No long and unwieldy Constitutional Amendment is necessary!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Congress should start TODAY to work on ending expensive and unfair to our Country, Birthright Citizenship. They will have my Complete and Total Support!”

Trump has found an opportunity in Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s opinion, which was not part of the 5-4 majority that ruled that everyone born in the U.S. is guaranteed citizenship under the 14th Amendment. Kavanaugh kept the door open to Congress rewriting the National Act of 1940, which interpreted the constitutional right to birthright citizenship.

Elected Republican officials with legal backgrounds broke from Trump and said a constitutional amendment is necessary to end birthright citizenship.

Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) said Congress can follow the “purposefully difficult” process of proposing an amendment for the states to ratify, requiring approval from two-thirds of the members in both chambers of Congress and three-quarters of the states for ratification.

“Ordinary legislation cannot repair the damage,” he said last week. “A constitutional amendment is now required. Accordingly, I will be announcing a forthcoming constitutional amendment to restore the sacred bond between American citizens and their government.”

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