U.S. Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, a member of the 'Make America Great Again' movement, has unintentionally criticized First Lady Melania Trump and her son Baron, as they both hold dual citizenship (American and Slovenian). Senator Moreno, representing Ohio, is preparing new legislation aimed at preventing American citizens from retaining dual citizenship, with the goal of ensuring their full loyalty is solely to the United States. Although born in Colombia, Moreno had previously renounced his Colombian citizenship.
In an interview with Fox News, Moreno stated that obtaining American citizenship at 18 was "the greatest honor of his life," considering that for the first time he felt he had a real opportunity to become a "full American." He added that taking the oath of allegiance to the United States was a great honor, emphasizing that American citizenship is not just an affiliation but a privilege that demands complete loyalty. "If you want to be an American, you have to be an American completely or not at all. It's time to put an end to holding two citizenships," he continued.
Observers point out that the proposed legislation will directly affect Melania and Baron Trump, as both hold American and Slovenian citizenship. Melania, born in Slovenia, is the second First Lady in U.S. history to be born abroad after Louisa Adams, wife of President John Quincy Adams, who was born in London in 1775. Melania is also the first and only First Lady to become an American citizen after marriage, obtaining her citizenship in 2006 through an EB-1 visa for individuals with "extraordinary ability" and sustained notoriety.
According to Washington Post journalist and 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Jordan, 55-year-old Melania and 19-year-old Baron still retain their Slovenian citizenship alongside their American one. Jordan reported that Melania had to submit an official application to the Slovenian government for her son to obtain citizenship, as Slovenia does not automatically grant citizenship to children born outside the country. She noted that Melania and her son have kept their Slovenian passports. In an interview with Jordan last year to promote her book, she mentioned that Melania sought to provide her son with broad options by granting him Slovenian citizenship, which would allow him to work easily in most European countries, facilitate his transfer between family company offices, whether in Paris or Slovenia, and give him better opportunities to start businesses or inherit property in Europe. Jordan also noted that Melania ensures Baron speaks Slovenian and maintains his cultural identity. She explained that granting Baron Slovenian citizenship gives him practical advantages, such as ease of getting a job or starting a business, as well as simplifying inheritance procedures, considering that Melania is motivated by motherhood and the desire to secure the maximum number of future options for her son.
It is noted that current U.S. laws allow citizens to hold another citizenship without needing to renounce their loyalty to the United States, a situation that Moreno seeks to change with a new bill called the 'Forced Citizenship Act of 2025.'
Moreno describes dual citizenship as a source of "conflict of interest and divided loyalty" and believes his bill will fundamentally change U.S. immigration law, forcing multi-citizens to choose only one citizenship. Moreno's proposal suggests that the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security will enforce the law by creating a special system to identify American citizens with dual nationality.
Under the proposed legislation, dual citizens would be given a one-year period to renounce their foreign or American citizenship. After the deadline, those who fail to comply with the new law will automatically lose their American citizenship. Those who choose to renounce their American citizenship, voluntarily or otherwise, will be treated legally as "foreigners" and will be officially registered as non-citizens. The proposed legislation will directly affect Melania and Baron, as both hold American and Slovenian citizenship.
