Constitutional Law
Jul. 6, 2026
Trump v. Barbara: Competing originalist narratives
In Trump v. Barbara (2026), the Supreme Court reaffirmed birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment and Wong Kim Ark while revealing deep divisions within originalism, as the justices reached opposing outcomes through competing readings of history, text and precedent.
Marc D. Alexander
Attorney and Mediator
Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC)
In Trump v. Barbara (2026) the Supreme Court majority reaffirmed the principle of birthright citizenship, drawing on the language of the 14th Amendment, historical context, and confirming the Court's earlier precedent, United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898).
At first blush, the case seems straightforward, based on the plain language of the amendment. In part, the 14th Amendment, Section 1, provides: "All persons bo...
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