WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with two high-profile political figures—Zohran Mamdani and Elon Musk—by suggesting that their U.S. citizenship could be revoked, raising alarm among civil rights advocates and legal scholars. But despite the rhetoric, legal experts say denaturalization is a complex and rarely used process that cannot be applied arbitrarily.
Trump’s comments come amid his intensifying crackdown on immigration and dissent, casting scrutiny on Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate born in Uganda, and Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur originally from South Africa.
The president publicly threatened to arrest Mamdani if he obstructs federal immigration enforcement operations, while also implying Musk could be forced to shut down his companies and return to South Africa after criticizing Trump’s narrowly passed spending bill.
Trump Allies Push for Denaturalization Proceedings Against Mamdani
Tensions surrounding Mamdani surged after Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee sent a formal request to the Department of Justice, urging an investigation into whether the Democratic mayoral hopeful should face denaturalization proceedings. In a letter posted online, Ogles accused Mamdani of “willful misrepresentation” and alleged ties to individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses prior to his naturalization in 2018.
The lawmaker cited Mamdani’s public support for the “Holy Land Five,” a group convicted in 2008 of providing material support to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. “Free the Holy Land Five / My guys,” Mamdani once rapped, Ogles noted, arguing that such sentiments may indicate undisclosed sympathies during his citizenship application.
Ogles also criticized Mamdani for refusing to denounce the slogan “globalize the intifada,” which some interpret as endorsing violence. “He needs to be DEPORTED,” Ogles wrote on social media, branding Mamdani a “socialist, communist” who poses a threat to New York.
Trump backed the sentiment during a press conference, saying, “If Mamdani prevents ICE from doing their job, we’ll have to arrest him.” The president added, “We don’t need a communist in this country… I’m watching him very carefully on behalf of the nation.”
Mamdani Responds: ‘This Is Political Persecution’
In a public statement, Mamdani condemned the president’s comments as authoritarian and politically motivated. “The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported,” he wrote on X. “Not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorize our city.”
He also took aim at current New York Mayor Eric Adams, who received rare praise from Trump, saying Adams “echoes this President’s division, distraction and hate.”
Trump Suggests Musk Should ‘Go Back to South Africa’ Amid Political Feud
Musk, a longtime ally of Trump and former adviser to his administration, has recently clashed with the White House over a new spending package that cuts electric vehicle tax credits. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, responded to Musk’s criticism by saying, “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Trump also suggested the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a body Musk once led under Trump—should investigate the billionaire’s finances, quipping, “BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!”
When asked directly whether Musk could be deported, Trump responded, “We’ll have to take a look.”
Can the U.S. Strip Citizenship from Naturalized Citizens Like Mamdani and Musk?
Legal experts say the answer is no—unless there is clear evidence of fraud in the naturalization process or specific crimes that meet strict legal thresholds.
Denaturalization, the process of revoking U.S. citizenship from someone who gained it through naturalization, is governed by federal law. It applies only when citizenship was obtained through intentional fraud or misrepresentation, or when the individual commits crimes such as terrorism, war crimes, or acts of treason.
Earlier this month, the Justice Department reiterated its authority to pursue civil denaturalization cases where naturalization was “illegally procured” or involved “willful misrepresentation.” But even under this guidance, legal scholars argue that the threshold is high and the process rarely used.
“Denaturalization is limited to cases where the government can prove material fraud in their original applications,” said Michael Kagan, law professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “This appears to be irresponsible rhetoric designed to intimidate political opponents.”
Historical Context: Denaturalization Has Been Used Sparingly in U.S. History
The U.S. government has a long, though selective, history of denaturalization—particularly during the early 20th century when political ideology and wartime alliances prompted sweeping revocations of citizenship.
Prominent cases include Emma Goldman, a Lithuanian-born anarchist deported in 1919, and Paul Knauer, a German-born citizen denaturalized in 1946 over ties to Nazi-affiliated groups. The Cold War era also saw attempts to strip citizenship from suspected communists.
But in 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Afroyim v. Rusk that Americans cannot be stripped of their citizenship without clear legal cause. The case, involving a man who voted in an Israeli election, set a precedent requiring proof of fraud or disloyalty.
While the Trump administration has signaled a willingness to expand the use of denaturalization—most recently revoking citizenship from a convicted pedophile and former Army member—experts say applying such measures to political rivals is a dramatic and dangerous departure from democratic norms.
Although Trump’s remarks about stripping the citizenship of Mamdani and Musk have stirred political controversy, there is little legal basis to pursue such action. Both men are naturalized U.S. citizens, and unless the administration can prove material fraud or criminal conduct that meets federal thresholds, their status remains legally secure.
