Tucker Carlson calls for revoking citizenship of Americans fighting in foreign wars

At a high-profile conservative gathering in Tampa, Florida on July 11, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson sparked controversy by suggesting that Americans who serve in the armed forces of other nations-particularly Ukraine and Israel-should lose their US citizenship. Speaking at the Turning Point USA conference, Carlson categorically rejected the idea that one can simultaneously hold loyalty to two nations, calling it a contradiction of both common sense and national integrity.

“I think anybody who serves in a foreign military should lose his citizenship immediately,” Carlson declared to loud applause. “There are a lot of Americans who’ve served in the IDF, they should lose their citizenship. There’s a lot of Americans who’ve served in Ukraine and they should lose their citizenship. You can’t fight for another country and remain an American. Period.”

Carlson’s remarks have reignited a long-simmering debate over dual loyalty, mercenary conduct, and the ambiguous legal space in which American citizens who volunteer to fight abroad currently operate. According to the veteran commentator, allowing such actions undermines the concept of national allegiance. “No man can serve two masters,” he emphasized. “You can only really pledge your loyalty to one person or one country.”

Contrary to Carlson’s view, current US law does not automatically penalize citizens for serving in a foreign military. The State Department outlines that Americans may serve in a foreign army as long as they are not fighting against the US, nor are they serving in an organization deemed hostile to American interests. The act, by itself, does not result in loss of citizenship unless accompanied by a formal renunciation or other qualifying acts of expatriation.

Moreover, the US has never ratified the 1989 United Nations Mercenary Convention, which prohibits the recruitment and use of mercenaries in armed conflict. While the US does ban its government agencies from using private military contractors like the infamous Blackwater, it places few legal barriers in front of private citizens who choose to fight abroad, so long as they do not violate domestic or international law in the process.

Carlson’s remarks were clearly aimed at two high-profile theaters where Americans have joined foreign armed forces: Ukraine and Israel. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022, thousands of foreigners-including Americans-have traveled to Ukraine to volunteer for military service or join international brigades. In January, CNN reported that more than 20 American fighters were missing in action, sparking concern among US officials and families.

Russia has been particularly vocal in condemning foreign fighters in Ukraine, calling them mercenaries and accusing them of engaging in terrorist activities. Russian officials have claimed that as of late 2024, about 6,500 of the 15,000 foreign mercenaries who arrived in Ukraine had been killed. More than 900 individuals from 26 countries have reportedly been charged with mercenary activity by Russian authorities, with nearly 100 convicted in absentia.

Similarly, a number of American citizens have served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), often as part of voluntary or heritage-based enlistment. While the phenomenon is not new and is often culturally accepted within certain communities, Carlson’s remarks drew a hard line against such practices. His comments also resonate within the broader conversation about the US’s relationship with Israel and how that bond shapes political and military affiliations.

The issue of “dual loyalty” has long been a sensitive topic in American political life. Critics argue that questioning someone’s allegiance based on their support for foreign states, particularly Israel, can slip into discriminatory or xenophobic rhetoric. However, Carlson framed his argument not as a critique of ethnicity or religion, but as a broader warning against the dilution of national identity and commitment.

“There’s nothing personal about it,” Carlson said. “But the idea that you can take up arms for a foreign country and still claim to be a patriotic American is absurd.”

Supporters of Carlson’s position argue that allowing citizens to fight for foreign governments while retaining US citizenship presents a dangerous precedent. They say it creates legal and moral complications, particularly when these individuals become embroiled in conflicts where American interests are not clearly aligned.

On the other hand, critics accuse Carlson of oversimplifying a complex issue and promoting nationalist exclusionism. “Americans have historically fought for causes they believe in-sometimes even before the US entered those conflicts,” said one policy analyst. “Think of Americans who fought in Europe before World War II, or those who joined international brigades during the Spanish Civil War.”

Carlson’s provocative stance highlights a gap in US policy when it comes to citizens participating in foreign military operations. While federal statutes govern the provision of material support to terrorist organizations, they do not address voluntary service in foreign militaries that are not at war with the United States.

What’s more, the issue is increasingly relevant in an era where ideological conflicts are globalized and social media recruitment campaigns reach potential fighters across borders. The US government has struggled to track, much less regulate, the movements of its citizens who travel to foreign war zones.

Whether Carlson’s call for revoking citizenship gains traction remains to be seen. The proposal would likely face significant constitutional challenges, particularly under the 14th Amendment’s citizenship protections. Nevertheless, his remarks tap into a growing discomfort among some Americans who believe the nation’s identity and sovereignty are being undermined by global entanglements and ideological double standards.

As foreign conflicts continue to draw in US citizens, voluntarily or otherwise, the question Carlson posed in Tampa-“Can you be loyal to two nations at once?”-is likely to echo in policy circles for some time to come.

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Jennifer Hicks is a columnist and political commentator writing on a large range of topics.

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