Trump Urges New US Citizens to ‘Preserve American Culture’ in Official Naturalization Ceremony Video

A newly reported video message from former President Donald Trump, slated for inclusion in naturalization ceremonies nationwide, instructs individuals becoming U.S. citizens that American culture is “yours to preserve.” The video, obtained and reported by Fox News Digital, signals a distinct thematic shift in the welcoming message delivered to new citizens, positioning them explicitly as custodians of the nation’s cultural identity.

The message is set to be played at every naturalization ceremony across the United States, a key step for immigrants transitioning from legal permanent residents to full citizens. In 2024 alone, over 800,000 individuals were naturalized as U.S. citizens, highlighting the scale of this official pathway to permanent residence and full integration into American civil life. The video’s broad dissemination ensures that Trump’s specific welcome and charge will reach a vast number of new members of the American body politic.

The Core Message and its Emphasis

In the video, Trump delivers a welcome that emphasizes the significance of U.S. citizenship. He is quoted as stating, “Today you receive the greatest gift ever granted by human hands: you become a citizen of the United States of America. I welcome you into our national family.” This framing underscores the profound value and privilege associated with attaining citizenship in the United States, characterising it as an extraordinary and precious acquisition.

Beyond the welcome, the central directive within the message is the call for new citizens to actively participate in the preservation of American culture. This particular emphasis marks a notable articulation of expectations placed upon individuals joining the national community through legal means.

Context: Immigration Policy and Philosophy

The introduction of this video message occurs within a broader context of heightened political debate surrounding immigration in the United States. The Trump administration, throughout its term, adopted increasingly stringent positions on both legal and illegal immigration. Key policies emphasized enhanced border enforcement, increased deportations of individuals residing in the country unlawfully, and stricter review processes for asylum claims.

This video message, while addressed to those achieving citizenship through the legal naturalization process, resonates with the administration’s overarching philosophy that underscores national sovereignty, security, and the importance of integration and assimilation for those entering or residing in the country. The call to “preserve American culture” aligns with the perspective, frequently voiced by Trump and his supporters, that legal immigrants should assimilate into American culture, adopting its norms, values, and traditions.

A Symbolic Departure

The report indicates that this video message is intended as a symbolic change from the approach taken by the preceding administration. Former President Joe Biden had previously utilized a video message in naturalization ceremonies that reportedly focused on thanking immigrants for choosing to come to America, highlighting their contributions and the diversity they bring.

By contrast, Trump’s message, as described, shifts the focus from the immigrant’s contribution or the nation’s welcome of diversity to the immigrant’s role in maintaining existing cultural frameworks. This positions naturalized citizens not merely as legal newcomers contributing to a dynamic society, but specifically as custodians tasked with upholding and preserving established American culture. The juxtaposition of these two approaches highlights differing philosophies on immigration, national identity, and the process of integration – one emphasizing gratitude and contribution, the other stressing preservation and assimilation.

Broader Implications

The widespread use of this video message in official naturalization ceremonies across the United States signifies a deliberate effort to shape the initial civic understanding and perceived responsibilities of new citizens. By directly instructing them on their role in preserving American culture, the message embeds a particular expectation at the very moment individuals formally join the nation. This aligns with a political viewpoint that views cultural cohesion and the maintenance of a core national identity as paramount, particularly amidst demographic shifts and ongoing debates about multiculturalism.

The video’s report by Fox News Digital suggests it may become a point of discussion regarding how different administrations frame the welcome and integration of new citizens and what reciprocal duties or expectations are placed upon them by the state. As naturalization remains a vital and high-volume avenue for establishing permanent life in the U.S., the content of the message delivered at this crucial juncture carries significant symbolic and civic weight.

Ultimately, the instruction for new citizens to view American culture as “yours to preserve” encapsulates a specific vision for the future of the United States and the role of its newest members within that vision, reflecting a perspective that prioritizes the continuity and safeguarding of established cultural norms and values.