‘On the first boat out’: Viral petition seeks Melania’s deportation; says Trump’s policy must apply to all

As criticism grows over US president Donald Trump’s reported plan to target naturalised citizens for deportation, a petition on MoveOn has gone viral, demanding that US first lady Melania Trump, her son Barron, and her parents also be deported. The petition claims that since Melania is a naturalised citizen, she and her family should be “on the first boat out” if Trump’s proposals are applied fairly. It also refers to Barron Trump as an “anchor baby” and cites the birth of Melania’s mother outside the US as part of the criteria Trump’s policy reportedly targets. “If it’s good for one, it’s good for all. There should be no exceptions,” the petition reads. It adds that removing the first lady would prevent any perception of double standards, saying, “If this is truly about national security, then Melania needs to go.” According to Fox News, the petition surfaced soon after Congresswoman Maxine Waters, speaking at an anti-DOGE protest in Los Angeles on 25 March, questioned Melania Trump’s immigration history. “Maybe he ought to first look at Melania,” she said, referring to Trump’s comments about changing birthright citizenship. Waters also said it was unclear whether Melania’s parents were documented when they came to the US. Melania Trump was born in the former Yugoslavia and became a US citizen in 2006. She is the first US first lady to be naturalised and only the second to be born outside the country. The New York Times reported in 2018 that she sponsored her parents for green cards and later citizenship. Her mother, Amalija Knavs, died in 2024. Her father, Viktor Knavs, has recently appeared at public events with the Trump family. Waters’ remarks came after Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office seeking to restrict birthright citizenship by reinterpreting the 14th amendment. The order is currently under judicial review. Waters’ comments were met with loud cheers at the protest, where hundreds marched against Trump’s federal downsising agenda. She also criticised Trump ally Elon Musk, saying, “We are not going to let Trump, or Elon Musk, or anybody else take the United States constitution down.”