Chef José Andrés criticized President Trump for altering birthright citizenship rules during America’s 250th anniversary, joining protesters outside the Supreme Court where Trump made a historic appearance.
Celebrity chef and activist José Andrés joined a crowd of protesters outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump made history by becoming the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the High Court. The case at hand involved birthright citizenship, a contentious issue that has sparked significant debate across the nation.
Speaking to Fox News Digital, Andrés expressed his disapproval of Trump’s attempts to change the established rules regarding citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. He emphasized that such changes are not aligned with the values America should uphold, especially in a year marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“The argument is that this country, this year, is celebrating 250 years! It’s not the time to be changing the game’s rules. Those rules have been already done,” Andrés stated. He urged that the focus should be on integrating the 15 million immigrants currently in the U.S. into the fabric of American society, rather than attempting to restrict their rights.
Andrés’s sentiments resonated with many of the protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court, who voiced concerns that Trump’s efforts to tighten regulations around birthright citizenship could violate the Constitution. One protester, holding a small dog adorned with a sign reading “NO KINGS. ONLY BI—ES,” remarked, “Well, I don’t know that there should be no limits, but there certainly shouldn’t be the limits that are proposed.”
Another protester articulated a broader concern about the implications of creating a hierarchy of citizenship based on parental ancestry. “Why is it that some people who are born here get to be citizens and other people are not?” they asked. “To me, that just violates the core concept of equality that our country is supposed to be founded on.”
As the oral arguments unfolded, actor Robert De Niro, who was present inside the courtroom alongside Trump and his advisors, shared his thoughts on the proceedings. After leaving the courthouse, De Niro expressed confusion about the arguments he had just witnessed, stating, “I could hear, but not hear. It’s complicated. So, I can’t say.”
De Niro criticized Trump’s stance on birthright citizenship, suggesting it was a tactic for Republicans to “get rid of people they don’t want.” When confronted with claims of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” he dismissed the notion as “nonsense.”
“People don’t like him for a reason,” De Niro asserted. “All the terrible things he’s done. If he did nice things, then he could have, he had the chance — he became president — to do nice things, not hateful, retribution, not just, outright mean things.” He added, “If he did nice things, people would love him. But he’s got a problem. He’s damaged.”
When asked to elaborate on what specifically bothered him about Trump, De Niro replied simply, “Everything.”
As the Supreme Court session concluded, reports indicated that the justices appeared poised to reject Trump’s arguments regarding birthright citizenship. The oral arguments lasted over two hours, with various Trump allies, including recently fired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, also in attendance.
Andrés’s participation in the protest and De Niro’s presence in the courtroom highlight the ongoing national debate surrounding immigration and citizenship, particularly as the country reflects on its history and values during this significant anniversary year.
According to Fox News Digital, the discussions surrounding birthright citizenship continue to evoke strong reactions from both supporters and opponents of Trump’s proposed changes.