The US Supreme Court has delivered a sharp rebuke to Donald Trump. Birthright citizenship stands. The ruling is a victory for constitutional originalists and a blow to the populist playbook.
British constitutional experts are privately elated. They see it as a reaffirmation of the rule of law. The principle is simple: if you are born on US soil, you are a citizen. No debate. The 14th Amendment is clear.
But the politics are messy. Trump has made this a wedge issue. His base sees birthright citizenship as a loophole. They want it closed. The court has now told them no.
Westminster is watching closely. The Tory right has flirted with similar ideas. Restrictions on citizenship. A 'hostile environment' for migrants. But this ruling sends a signal. You cannot rewrite constitutional fundamentals on a whim.
One senior British judge told me: "The US has done us a favour. They have demonstrated that legality trumps populism." The remark was off the record but revealing.
The game now moves to Congress. Can Trump force a legislative change? Unlikely. The votes aren't there. But he will use it as a rallying cry. The 2024 campaign is already taking shape.
For Boris Johnson's successors, there is a lesson. Populism has limits. The courts are a bulwark. The question is whether the political class has the nerve to defend them.
Inside Number 10, there is quiet relief. They feared a US precedent that would embolden their own hardliners. Now they can point to America and say: see, the constitution matters.
But the battle is not over. The far right is regrouping. They will find new targets. The Supreme Court ruling is a victory, but only a temporary one.
For now, the champagne is on ice in the Inns of Court. The rule of law has had its day in the sun. But the clouds are gathering.
