Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stepped on a legal landmine during her first White House press briefing Tuesday when she declared the administration doesn't believe in the constitutionality of birthright citizenship.
Birthright citizenship is outlined in the 14th Amendment and guarantees, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside."
But according to Leavitt, "This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional."
But critics let her have it on social media.
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Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) posted a screen capture of the 14th Amendment, remarking, "The literal Constitution."
Human Rights Campaign press secretary Brandon Wolf chimed in, "Well, you're wrong."
"And on what constitutional principle is this belief based?" asked former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele.
Nevada attorney general communications director John Sadler pointed out, "We are pretending not to be able to read the literal text of the Constitution now. It has been 8 days."
"Wow. I didn't predict 'the Constitution is unconstitutional,'" said former immigration lawyer Aaron Reichlin-Melnick. "Worth noting that's not what the Trump admin is arguing in court. They're claiming it's not *required* by the Constitution (they are very, very wrong) but they obviously aren't arguing it's unconstitutional."
"It's literally in the Constitution. This woman is embarrassing," said the social media account Art Candee on Bluesky.
Former IMF speechwriter Tony Annett pointed to Leavitt's comments while "She has the audacity to wear a cross" necklace.
Former Trump campaign staffer A.J. Delgado posted, "I'm rooting for this girl personally, but, damn, she's dumb as rocks. Even opponents of birthright citizenship don't say it's 'unconstitutional.' Why? For something to be 'unconstitutional,' it has to violate one of the rights granted by the Constitution."
"For instance," she continued, "you can say that a law restricting your speech is 'unconstitutional' because it violates your First Amendment right. Letting Maria's kids have citizenship isn't 'unconstitutional.' What she should have said is: 'There is *no basis* for birthright citizenship in the Constitution, as its supporters mistakenly argue.' Sigh. Between this and 'Columbia' in an official press release... yikes."