President Trump took a front row seat in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to listen to arguments in a birthright citizenship case.
The president sat in the court’s public gallery, with Attorney General Pam Bondi at his side, to listen to Solicitor General John Sauer make the case for his executive order redefining American citizenship.
After the session had ended and he returned to the White House, Trump offered a seething reaction to the case.
President Trump attending the oral arguments in the Supreme Court case on birthright citizenship on April 1, 2026. X/@WhiteHouse
Trump with Attorney General Pam Bondi attending the oral arguments. X/@WhiteHouse“We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow ‘Birthright’ Citizenship!’” he wrote on Truth Social.
The justices are considering the legality of the president’s order that aimed to end birthright citizenship for children of unauthorized immigrants and those on temporary visas, such as tourists or students.
At question is whether the order complies with the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, which the White House claims has been misinterpreted.
The president left the Supreme Court before arguments finished in the birthright citizenship case.
President Trump sits in a car as he departs the U.S. Supreme Court after attending oral arguments on the legality of his administration’s effort to limit birthright citizenship for the children of immigrants, April 1, 2026. REUTERS
President Trump took a front row seat in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to listen to arguments in a birthright citizenship case. REUTERSTrump stayed in his front row seat while Solicitor General John Sauer made the case for the legality of his executive order on American citizenship.
But he left and returned to the White House when ACLU attorney Cecillia Wang began her arguments on why the executive order is illegal.
The president was not seen nor heard as lawyers deliver their arguments.
The high court has a different set of rules when it comes to media coverage.
Protesters outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, March 15, 2026. AP
An anti-birthright citizenship protester holding signs during oral arguments. Getty ImagesNeither television cameras nor still photographers are allowed in the court, per longstanding tradition.
Audio from the hearing is played live but only the attorneys in the case and the justices can speak.
Trump, who became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the court, has had a contentious relationship with the court. The justices, in an earlier ruling, invalidated Trump’s tariff plan, which is a major part of his agenda.
ACLU lawyer Cecilia Wang speaking outside the Supreme Court after oral arguments concluded. Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty ImagesThe president has been critical of their work.
As the hearing began, the justices didn’t acknowledge the president’s presence but merely started asking their questions.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday he wanted to attend the hearing because he’s been invested in the issue for a long time.
“I’m going,” he said, adding, he’d “just sit there and listen, because I have listened to this argument for so long.”
