Does Melania Trump retain dual citizenship with Slovenia?
Executive summary
Reporting in multiple outlets and a recent book by Washington Post reporter Mary Jordan say Melania Trump became a U.S. citizen in July 2006 and "remains" a dual citizen of the United States and Slovenia, and that her son Barron also holds Slovenian citizenship — statements repeated in Newsweek, The Independent and other outlets citing Jordan’s reporting [1] [2] [3] [4]. Current coverage frames these facts as the reason recent legislation proposals would affect them if enacted [2] [3].
1. What the press and one biographer say — dual citizenship reported
Multiple news outlets cite Mary Jordan’s book The Art of Her Deal to state that Melania Trump obtained U.S. citizenship in July 2006 and has kept Slovenian citizenship, and that she secured Slovenian citizenship or passports for her son Barron as well [1] [4] [3]. Newsweek and The Independent repeat the same core fact pattern — naturalization in 2006 followed by maintained Slovenian status — when describing how a proposed U.S. bill could compel dual nationals to choose one citizenship [2] [3].
2. How the fact is being used politically
Coverage of Sen. Bernie Moreno’s “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” has highlighted Melania and Barron as concrete examples of people who would be affected, with outlets explaining that the bill would force those with foreign citizenship to renounce it or forfeit U.S. citizenship [2] [3]. Reporters and commentators are using the Trumps’ reported dual status to illustrate the bill’s reach and the political stakes [4] [5].
3. Source limitations and reliance on a single book
The claim that Melania and Barron “remain” dual citizens in most articles traces back to Jordan’s reporting in her book; the news stories largely repeat her account rather than independently verifying government records or passport copies [4] [1] [3]. Available sources do not cite Slovenian or U.S. government documents directly confirming current passport holdings or formal citizenship status beyond Jordan’s account and its repetition in media [4] [1].
4. Legal context the reporting does not fully resolve
Some secondary sources and commentators note that Slovenian and U.S. rules around dual citizenship can be complicated and that citizenship can depend on actions like formal renunciation or registration — but the articles cited do not present documentary proof of any renunciation by Melania (p1_s7 is included in the search set but not used by mainstream outlets cited here). The news pieces therefore present Jordan’s book as the factual basis without producing original legal or administrative records [3] [4].
5. Competing perspectives and uncertainty
The dominant perspective in the provided reporting is that Melania and Barron hold dual U.S.-Slovenian citizenship based on Jordan’s work [1] [3]. Alternative lines — for example, any official Slovenian confirmation, a U.S. State Department statement, or documentation showing renunciation — are not in the provided material; available sources do not mention any government records directly confirming or denying current dual status beyond the book and media repetition [4] [2].
6. Why this matters now
The timeliness of this question comes from legislative proposals that would require exclusive allegiance to the United States; outlets use the Trumps’ reported status to personalize the policy debate and to show how the law could apply to high-profile figures if passed [2] [3]. That political framing amplifies interest but does not substitute for primary-document confirmation of citizenship status.
7. Bottom line and what is not found in current reporting
Based on the sources provided, mainstream outlets and Mary Jordan’s book state that Melania Trump became a U.S. citizen in July 2006 and has retained Slovenian citizenship, and that Barron also holds Slovenian citizenship [1] [4] [3]. However, the reporting relies on Jordan’s account and media repetition; available sources do not include direct government records or other primary-document proof of current passports or a formal Slovenian citizenship register entry confirming continued dual citizenship [4] [1].
If you want a definitive, primary-document answer, request confirmation from official records: the U.S. State Department or the Slovenian government — neither of which is cited in the materials provided here.