Marjorie Taylor Greene Pushes for New Census Excluding Non-Citizens, Backed by Trump

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) announced Monday that former President Donald Trump has officially endorsed her newly proposed legislation that would require a fresh U.S. census focused solely on American citizens. The bill, which Greene says is aimed at securing the integrity of future elections, would mandate an immediate nationwide count of citizens only—excluding non-citizens from the data used to determine congressional representation.

“I just got off the phone with President Trump!!” Greene posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I told him about my new bill I am introducing that will save America’s elections from ever being stolen again!”

Greene’s proposal, if enacted, would order the U.S. Census Bureau to immediately begin a new population count that includes a citizenship question. Only U.S. citizens would be included in the numbers used to draw congressional districts, bypassing the current standard that counts every person residing in the United States, regardless of immigration status.

“Upon completion of the census,” Greene continued, “the bill will direct states to immediately begin a redistricting of all U.S. House seats process using only the population of United States citizens.”

She thanked Trump for his support and wrapped her post with a rallying cry: “Let’s get this done!!!”

Constitutional Controversy

The U.S. Constitution currently mandates a census every ten years, with the next one scheduled for 2030. Redistricting based on that count is expected in 2031. Historically, the census has included everyone residing in the United States—not just citizens. This principle was codified after the Civil War through the 14th Amendment, which requires counting the “whole number of persons in each state.”

However, Republicans have increasingly pushed to shift that standard, arguing that the inclusion of non-citizens unfairly inflates representation in states with larger immigrant populations. A similar bill was passed by the House in 2024 but failed to gain traction in the then-Democrat-controlled Senate.

Rep. James Comer (R-KY), a vocal advocate for the change, has stated the new approach is about fairness and restoring balance to the electoral system.

“Some states end up with greater representation in Congress based on a higher concentration of noncitizens,” Comer previously said. “This dilutes the ‘one person, one vote’ principle for citizens in states with fewer noncitizens.”

Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration

The call for a citizen-only census came on the same day the House passed another major Republican-backed bill: the Detain and Deport Illegal Aliens Who Assault Cops Act. Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), the legislation passed by a 265–148 vote, with 54 Democrats crossing party lines to support it.

The bill mandates that any illegal immigrant accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer be taken into federal custody and remain detained until deportation. It also establishes a new legal category of inadmissibility specifically for migrants who commit such offenses.

“There is no reason that an illegal alien who attacks our law enforcement should remain in our country,” Van Drew said. “That shows zero respect for our rule of law or our institutions.”

Republican leaders hailed the bill as a major step in supporting law enforcement and securing the nation’s borders.

“House Democrats just voted to protect violent, illegal immigrants over our brave law enforcement officers,” said Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), the House Majority Whip. “Once again, the Democrat Party proves they are the most anti-law enforcement party in history.”

Political Momentum Shifting?

While Democrats have continued to oppose many of these Republican measures, citing concerns about constitutional protections and civil rights, recent polling suggests that public opinion may be turning against them—particularly on economic issues.

A recent CNN poll revealed that Republicans have opened a surprising lead over Democrats in terms of public trust on economic policy. Even CNN’s own analysts seemed stunned by the numbers, with data expert Harry Enten noting that efforts to portray Trump’s economic proposals—particularly on tariffs—as dangerous have not gained traction.

“You would think, after months of negative media coverage, that Democrats would have a lead on the economy,” Enten said during a segment with CNN host Kate Bolduan. “But that’s just not what the data is showing.”

The GOP sees these developments as signs that voters are increasingly aligned with their agenda—from immigration and border security to redistricting and economic reform. With Trump’s vocal support and a Republican-controlled House, Greene’s bill may gain significant momentum, even if it faces resistance in the Senate or the courts.

Still, the constitutional and political battles ahead are certain to be intense. Whether this new census push can withstand legal scrutiny or become a rallying cry for Trump’s 2024 campaign remains to be seen.