A Republican senator from Ohio has put forward a legislative proposal to terminate dual citizenship in the United States. This legislative move could have direct implications for First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron Trump, who both hold dual citizenship with Slovenia.
Sen. Bernie Moreno introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, which mandates that all U.S. citizens with foreign citizenship must choose between the two nations. The legislation aims to ensure citizens pledge “exclusive allegiance” to the United States, thereby dismantling the current allowance for Americans to hold multiple citizenships concurrently.
This bill marks a substantial transformation in U.S. immigration policy. Under existing law, Americans can maintain citizenship both domestically and internationally without the requirement to prioritize one allegiance. Moreno’s proposal would necessitate dual citizens to make a definitive choice.
Moreno, originally from Colombia and a U.S. citizen since age 18, has renounced his Colombian citizenship. In a statement issued on December 1, 2025, regarding his legislation, he highlighted his personal experience with the citizenship process.
“One of the greatest honors of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so,” Moreno stated. “It was an honor to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and only to the United States of America.”
The senator maintains that dual citizenship introduces conflicts of interest and divided loyalties that could compromise American interests. His proposed legislation would implement a comprehensive system through the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to monitor and enforce the new citizenship requirements.
According to the bill’s provisions, dual citizens would be identified in a government database and given one year to decide. Failing to comply within that period would result in the automatic forfeiture of U.S. citizenship.
The legislation would also impact future citizenship acquisitions. Any U.S. citizen who voluntarily acquires foreign citizenship following the law’s enactment would automatically lose their American citizenship.
Mary Jordan’s book “The Art of Her Deal” notes that both Melania and Barron Trump have retained their Slovenian passports in addition to their American citizenship. The book states that Melania filed the necessary documentation to acquire Slovenian citizenship for Barron, as it was not automatically conferred. Melania Trump achieved U.S. citizenship in July 2006, making her the sole first lady to become a naturalized citizen. She was born in Slovenia. The book also mentions that Barron speaks Slovenian, maintaining a connection to his mother’s cultural heritage.
Legal scholars have expressed constitutional concerns about the bill, noting its potential conflict with Supreme Court rulings. In Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), the Court ruled that U.S. citizenship cannot be revoked involuntarily. The bill has been forwarded to the Senate Judiciary Committee, though no hearings have been scheduled.
The enforcement mechanism in Moreno’s bill proposes federal oversight of citizenship status via a database system managed by the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to monitor dual citizens.