In his first major interview since winning the presidential election, Donald Trump sat down with NBC News’ Meet the Press to share his thoughts on several key issues. When asked about the January 6 Capitol riot, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to pardoning individuals convicted in connection with the event.
He also didn’t hold back when it came to the House committee investigating the riot, saying, “Honestly, they should go to jail,” in reference to its Democratic members. When asked specifically about Liz Cheney, Trump responded, “For what they did.”
Despite his strong opinion, Trump made it clear he wouldn’t be directing the FBI or attorney general to pursue this matter, instead focusing on what he described as “drill, baby, drill,” while promising to evaluate individual cases on their merits.
Trump also hinted at potentially taking executive action to end birthright citizenship, which automatically grants U.S. citizenship to children born on American soil, even if their parents are in the country illegally. However, such a move is likely to face a legal battle challenging its constitutionality.
The conversation turned to immigration policy when Welker asked about mass deportations. Trump acknowledged the difficulty of the task but stressed the importance of enforcing immigration laws. “You have to have rules, regulations, laws,” he said, adding that those who entered the country illegally should be dealt with, while emphasizing the fairness owed to those waiting years to immigrate legally. He also hinted at making the immigration process easier for those who pass a citizenship test.