A new bill proposed by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio could strip several celebrities of their dual citizenship.
This law would also directly impact First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, in addition to celebrities like Tom Hanks and Ryan Reynolds.
Why It Matters
The new proposal calls for a total elimination of dual citizenship, which affects the Trumps, as both Melania and Barron hold dual U.S.-Slovenian citizenship.
There are also constitutional concerns and legal issues that could arise over redefining the meaning of U.S. citizenship.
What To Know
Many celebrities hold dual citizenship and could see their citizenship affected by the law if passed.
This includes:
- Tom Hanks — U.S. / Greece
- Rita Wilson — U.S. / Greece
- Ryan Reynolds — Canada / U.S.
- Sandra Oh — Canada / U.S.
- Arnold Schwarzenegger — Austria / U.S.
- Anthony Hopkins — U.K. / U.S.
- Rachel Weisz — U.K. / U.S.
- Olivia Wilde — U.S. / Ireland
- Salma Hayek — Mexico / U.S.
- Mila Kunis — Ukraine / U.S.
- Charlize Theron — South Africa / U.S.
- John Oliver — U.K. / U.S.
- Jimmy Kimmel — U.S. / Italy
- Billy Idol — U.K. / U.S.
- Gisele Bündchen — Brazil / U.S.
- Pamela Anderson — Canada / U.S.
- Jim Carrey — Canada / U.S.
- Elon Musk — U.S. / South Africa / Canada
The bill, titled the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, states that “citizens of the United States shall owe sole and exclusive allegiance to the United States.”
The text reads that “an individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.”
If passed, U.S. citizens would have to renounce their non-U.S. citizenship within one year of the law’s passing or renounce their American citizenship.
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio said in a statement: “Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege—and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing… It was an honor to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and ONLY to the United States of America. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”
What Happens Next
Historically, the right to dual citizenship has been protected by the Constitution.
Under the Fourteenth Amendment, the law stipulates that U.S. citizens cannot lose their citizenship unless they voluntarily relinquish it.
This was also reinforced in 1939 in Perkins v. Elg, and then again in The Kawakita v. United States (1952). The landmark case Afroyim v. Rusk (1967) also held firm that U.S. citizens cannot be stripped of their citizenship without their consent, signifying the bill could face trouble ahead.
