NBC News Called Out For Selective Editing Of 14th Amendment During Trump Interview [WATCH]

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, called out NBC News for what he described as “selectively omitting” a critical part of the 14th Amendment during an interview with President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday.

The omission occurred as Trump discussed his plan to end birthright citizenship, a key policy he intends to address upon taking office.

Trump spoke with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, addressing several of his administration’s planned policies.

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Among them was his intention to end birthright citizenship, which currently grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States regardless of their parents’ citizenship status.

When asked about the policy, Trump stated his intention to act decisively on the issue: “It’s ridiculous, and it has to end.”

He confirmed that ending birthright citizenship would be a priority “on Day One” of his presidency.

Welker pushed back, citing the 14th Amendment, which she claimed states that “all persons born in the United States are citizens.”

She then questioned whether Trump could bypass the constitutional provision through executive action.

Trump affirmed his openness to using executive authority, saying, “We’re the only country that has this. We have to end it.”

Later on Sunday, Sen. Lee took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to challenge Welker’s framing of the issue.

He pointed out that her summary of the 14th Amendment omitted six crucial words: “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

Lee shared a clip of the interview, writing, “All persons born … in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, shall be citizens of the United States,” with the omitted phrase highlighted in asterisks. “Those words matter,” Lee emphasized.

1. @MeetThePress omits six words about birthright citizenship from the 14th Amendment

The omitted text is set off by asterisks:

“All persons born … in the United States, *and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,* shall be citizens of the United States”

Those words matter https://t.co/qVYld0O4og

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 8, 2024

Lee followed up with a 12-part thread on X to elaborate on his concerns.

He argued that the omitted phrase has significant implications for how birthright citizenship is interpreted.

“Congress has the power to define what it means to be born in the United States ‘and subject to the jurisdiction thereof,’” Lee explained.

2. Congress has the power to define what it means to be born in the United States “and subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 8, 2024

He suggested that Congress could pass legislation clarifying that individuals born to illegal immigrants in the United States are not automatically granted citizenship.

“Those who suggest Congress is somehow powerless to limit birthright citizenship ignore important constitutional text giving Congress power to define who among those ‘born in the United States’ is born subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” Lee added.

9. Those who suggest Congress is somehow powerless to limit birthright citizenship ignore important constitutional text giving Congress power define who among those “born in the United States” is born “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 8, 2024

Lee also criticized Meet the Press for its handling of the topic, saying, “It bothers me that @MeetThePress, long revered as America’s leading Sunday political news program, has become so one-sided.

10. It bothers me that @MeetThePress, long revered as America’s leading Sunday political news program, has become so one-sided.

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 8, 2024

In this instance, @MeetThePress seems to try to render a debatable matter beyond debate by selectively omitting key words from the Constitution.”

11. In this instance, @MeetThePress seems to try to render a debatable matter beyond debate by selectively omitting key words from the Constitution, making it appear incorrectly that the Fourteenth Amendment proscribes any and all restrictions on birthright citizenship.

— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 8, 2024

In the wide-ranging interview, Trump addressed additional priorities for his incoming administration, including rebuilding America’s global reputation, assessing FBI Director Christopher Wray’s performance, and uniting a divided nation.

NBC: Will you fire Christopher Wray?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: “It would sort of seem pretty obvious that if @Kash_Patel gets in, he’s going to be taking somebody’s place, right? That somebody is the man you’re talking about.” pic.twitter.com/dYQwfx5l5O

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 8, 2024

When asked about the tone of his inaugural address, Trump said it would focus on unity and national success.

“It’s going to be a message of unity, and I think success brings unity. And I’ve experienced that. I’ve experienced it in my first term,” Trump said. “We’re going to be talking about unity, and we’re going to be talking about success. Making our country safe. Keeping people that shouldn’t be in our country out. Basically, it’s going to be about bringing our country together.”

President Trump on his Second Inaugural Address: We’re going to have a message of unity. pic.twitter.com/K4OMdQXomT

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 8, 2024

Trump’s comments and Lee’s subsequent critique highlight ongoing debates surrounding constitutional interpretation and immigration policy, issues expected to take center stage in the new administration.

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