U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after sharing a video criticising birthright citizenship, in which conservative commentator Michael Savage made derogatory remarks about immigrants and referred to countries like India and China as “hellholes”.
The video, originally aired on Savage’s show The Savage Nation, was reposted by Trump on his social media platform, intensifying the ongoing debate over immigration policies in the United States.
Debate over birthright citizenship reignites
In the clip, Savage claimed that the current legal framework allows immigrants to exploit birthright citizenship by entering the U.S. late in pregnancy.
“A baby born here becomes an instant citizen, and then they bring the entire family,” he alleged, criticising what he described as loopholes in the system.
He also expressed frustration with legal arguments presented before the Supreme Court of the United States, saying the debate was dominated by “legalese” rather than public concerns.
Savage further targeted the American Civil Liberties Union, accusing it of promoting policies that favour undocumented immigrants. Calling the issue beyond legal technicalities, he argued that birthright citizenship should be decided through a national vote rather than courts.
Criticism of Constitution and immigration system
The commentator also questioned whether constitutional interpretations remain relevant in modern times, pointing out that the U.S. Constitution was written before technological advancements like air travel and the internet.
He claimed that the traditional “melting pot” model of assimilation no longer exists, alleging that immigration has changed the country’s social fabric.
Trump’s amplification of these remarks comes amid his continued push for stricter immigration policies and renewed scrutiny of birthright citizenship ahead of political contests.
Congress reacts to ‘hellholes’ remark
The controversy deepened after the remarks referring to India triggered sharp reactions from the Indian National Congress.
The party described the comment as “deeply insulting and anti-India” and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lodge a strong diplomatic protest.
“The Prime Minister should take up this matter with the U.S. President and strongly object,” the party said, questioning Modi’s silence on previous remarks by Trump.
In a strong political attack, Congress alleged that the Prime Minister had failed to respond firmly to repeated statements targeting India.
Part of broader immigration narrative
Trump’s post also included criticism of hiring practices in parts of the U.S., alleging—without evidence—that jobs in sectors like technology are dominated by individuals from India and China.
The remarks were made in the context of his broader argument against birthright citizenship, which he claims enables immigrants to gain long-term benefits through their children born in the U.S.
