PolitiFact is reporting that the U.S. Supreme Court has issued two significant rulings on June 30, impacting President Donald Trump's campaign promises.
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court rejected President Trump's executive order seeking to eliminate birthright citizenship. The ruling reaffirms automatic citizenship for anyone born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' immigration status. This decision blocked one of Trump's key 2024 campaign promises, which PolitiFact tracks with its MAGA-Meter. Trump had issued the executive order on his first day in office, aiming to prevent U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants from receiving automatic citizenship. The court's decision in Trump v. Barbara overturned the order, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the majority opinion, joined by Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Justice Brett Kavanaugh partially joined, citing existing law but not the 14th Amendment. Legal experts told PolitiFact they were surprised by the 5-4 majority on the 14th Amendment interpretation but described Roberts' ruling as a forceful defense. Trump reacted on Truth Social, calling the decision "too bad for our Country" and urging Congress to act. PolitiFact rated this promise "Broken."
Separately, PolitiFact is reporting the Supreme Court also ruled that states can ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls' and women's sports. However, the court did not mandate a national ban, sidestepping a nationwide policy. The ruling upheld laws in West Virginia and Idaho that prohibited transgender women from participating in publicly funded girls' and women's sports. PolitiFact noted that 27 other states have similar laws. The court's decision combined two cases brought by transgender athletes who argued their states' laws violated Title IX and the Constitution's equal protection clause. All nine justices agreed the state laws do not violate Title IX, though they were split on the equal protection clause. While the ruling aligns with Trump's position, it does not fulfill his campaign pledge for a nationwide ban. The majority opinion stated that Title IX and the equal protection clause allow sports teams to determine eligibility based on biological sex, permitting states to exclude transgender athletes. The court did not address whether trans-inclusive policies were permissible. PolitiFact rated this promise "In the Works."