Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday wrote on social media that “American citizenship is not for sale” as he vowed to crack down on so-called birth tourism.
Rubio said he was launching a task force to end the “heinous abuse of our nation’s laws,” referring to those who come here with the intention of giving birth on U.S. soil so their child gains citizenship.
But critics immediately pointed to a key problem with Rubio’s “American citizenship is not for sale” rhetoric: his boss.
President Donald Trump is selling a “Trump gold card,” or a pathway to citizenship for wealthy foreign elites. For $1 million, applicants gain lawful permanent residence ― a process that typically takes years and has numerous legal requirements ― in a matter of weeks, according to the program’s website. Then, over time, Trump gold card holders can apply for U.S. citizenship as well.
Given that reality, Rubio’s critics were quick to hit back with some reminders: