President Donald Trump just dropped a bombshell on Truth Social, shaking up the census game. On August 6, 2025, he announced a bold directive to the Commerce Department to start crafting a new census that leaves out unauthorized migrants. This isn’t just paperwork—it’s a calculated move to reshape political power.
Fox News reported that Trump’s directive aims to exclude unauthorized migrants from the population count used for apportioning House seats and electoral votes, leveraging data from the 2024 Presidential Election.
The U.S. conducts a census every decade, with the last in 2020 and the next set for 2030. This new census, however, is a direct challenge to that schedule and tradition.
The 14th Amendment mandates counting all persons for apportionment, except Indians not taxed, which puts Trump’s plan on shaky constitutional ground.
“Representatives shall be apportioned … counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed,” the amendment states. Critics will likely argue this language leaves no wiggle room, but Trump’s team seems ready to test those waters.
Trump’s Truth Social post was crystal clear: “I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS.”
He insists this will use “modern-day facts and figures” from the 2024 election to ensure accuracy. But let’s be real—elections aren’t censuses, and this smells like a political maneuver, not a statistical one.
The president doubled down, stating, “People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS.” This isn’t just rhetoric; it’s a direct shot at the current system, which counts everyone, citizen or not. The Census Bureau’s policy confirms, “all people … with a usual residence in the United States are included in the resident population.”
This isn’t Trump’s first rodeo on this issue. Back in 2020, he issued a memorandum pushing to exclude unauthorized migrants from the apportionment base “to the extent feasible.”
That move was spiked by President Joe Biden’s 2021 executive order, which restored the inclusive count.
Trump didn’t waste time in 2025, revoking Biden’s executive order with a swift pen stroke. His 2020 memorandum argued that excluding unauthorized migrants was about “respect for the law and protection of the integrity of the democratic process.” It’s a line that resonates with his base but raises eyebrows among constitutional scholars who see it as a stretch.
The decennial census isn’t just a headcount—it’s the backbone of political representation. It determines how many House seats each state gets, which in turn sets electoral vote numbers for presidential elections. Trump’s plan to tweak this could shift power dynamics, especially in states with large migrant populations.
The 14th Amendment’s language is unambiguous, counting “the whole number of persons” for apportionment. Trump’s team might argue they’re just interpreting “persons” creatively, but good luck selling that to a court.
The Constitution doesn’t play favorites with residency status, and that’s a hurdle Trump’s plan can’t easily clear. Trump’s supporters see this as a stand for fairness, ensuring only legal residents shape political outcomes.
Critics, though, will call it a power grab, accusing him of rigging the system to favor red states. Both sides have a point, but the legal fight will likely decide the outcome.
The 2024 election data angle is particularly spicy. Trump’s directive to use election results for a census is uncharted territory—elections track voters, not residents. This could lead to a wildly inaccurate count, undermining the very “accuracy” he claims to champion.
A new census excluding unauthorized migrants could shrink the House delegations of states like California or Texas, where migrant populations are significant. Fewer seats mean fewer electoral votes, which could tilt future presidential races. It’s a high-stakes gamble with ripple effects for decades.
Trump’s move taps into a broader conservative frustration with progressive policies that, in their view, prioritize non-citizens over Americans.
