Melania a dual citizen?
Executive summary
Melania Trump is widely reported in recent media and biographies to hold both U.S. and Slovenian citizenship; multiple outlets cite Mary Jordan’s reporting that she naturalized in 2006 and “remains a dual citizen,” and that her son Barron also holds dual U.S.–Slovenian status [1] [2]. A new bill, the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025,” would seek to outlaw dual citizenship and could, if enacted, force dual nationals—including Melania and Barron—to choose one nationality, though commentators and lawyers cited in coverage say the proposal faces steep constitutional and practical hurdles [3] [1].
1. What the reporting says about Melania’s citizenship
Contemporary reporting and biographical accounts state Melania Trump became a U.S. citizen in 2006 and has retained Slovenian citizenship, giving her dual nationality with the United States and Slovenia; journalists and outlets repeatedly describe both Melania and her son Barron as dual citizens [1] [2] [4]. Newsweek and other outlets quote immigration lawyers and biographers that her Slovenian ties remain intact and that Barron holds a Slovenian passport and speaks the language, which these sources present as part of the public record [2] [5].
2. The new bill that focused attention on her status
Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno introduced the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025,” which the bill text and press reporting frame as a prohibition on holding foreign nationality simultaneously with U.S. citizenship; coverage says the draft would require people with dual citizenship to renounce non‑U.S. nationality within a year or be deemed to have relinquished U.S. citizenship [1] [6]. News outlets explicitly name Melania and Barron as among those who would be affected if the legislation became law [3] [5].
3. Legal obstacles and expert pushback
Multiple reports cite immigration attorneys and legal scholars who argue the bill would face immediate constitutional challenges because Supreme Court precedent bars revocation of U.S. citizenship absent a voluntary act to relinquish it; Melania’s former lawyer is quoted criticizing the plan as inconsistent with established practice [1] [7]. Coverage stresses that courts have long required a voluntary act for loss of citizenship, meaning implementing a mass revocation would be legally fraught [3].
4. Practical and administrative problems the press highlights
Reporters point to huge practical hurdles: there is no federal registry of dual nationals, and building a system to identify and process millions of Americans with foreign ties would be unprecedented and complex, according to Newsweek and allied stories [3]. Estimates cited in the reporting suggest millions could be affected, raising questions about feasibility and civil‑rights implications [2] [6].
5. Competing narratives and political framing
Supporters of the bill frame it as enforcing “exclusive allegiance” to the United States and argue dual citizenship undermines civic fidelity; proponents use rhetoric about national loyalty when describing the measure’s intent [6] [5]. Critics — including lawyers who represented Melania — describe the bill as political theater that conflicts with constitutional protections and historical practice, noting even past American leaders held foreign ties [7] [2].
6. What the sources do not settle
Available sources establish reported dual‑citizen status for Melania and Barron and describe the bill’s language and political reception, but they do not provide direct government confirmation of Melania’s current passport holdings or any official response from the White House on whether she has taken steps regarding Slovenian nationality in light of the bill — that detail is not found in current reporting [1] [2]. Likewise, nothing in these items shows the bill has cleared committee or become law; coverage treats it as a proposal facing legal and logistical barriers [3].
7. How to interpret the coverage
The convergence of biography (Mary Jordan), mainstream reporting (Newsweek, The Independent, HuffPost) and commentary consistently portrays Melania as a dual U.S.–Slovenian national and places her squarely among those who would be impacted by Moreno’s draft legislation [2] [1] [5]. At the same time, constitutional scholars and former counsel note the proposal clashes with settled case law and would likely prompt constitutional litigation before any enforcement could occur [3] [7].
Limitations: this summary relies only on the provided reporting; it does not include independent document searches for passport records or a statement from Melania, the White House, Slovenia, or congressional offices beyond what these sources quote [1] [3] [2].