The Trump administration is making strong moves to bring back common sense and pride to the U.S. citizenship process. As a military veteran who’s fought for this country, I can tell you—citizenship isn’t just a piece of paper. It’s a commitment to the American way of life. That’s why the changes being made to the citizenship test in 2025 are not just good—they’re necessary.
Back in 2020, under President Trump’s first term, the naturalization civics test was updated to better check if applicants really understand what it means to be an American. But when Biden and his crew took over, they watered the test back down to the 2008 version. Now, with Trump back in charge, the tougher and more meaningful 2020 version is being reinstated.
Let’s talk facts. The updated test includes 128 questions, up from the old 100. Applicants are asked up to 20 of these questions and must answer at least 12 correctly to pass. The questions aren’t tricky—they’re basic knowledge every American should know. Things like what the Constitution does, key wars in our history, and why we joined World War I. These are not “gotcha” questions. They’re the building blocks of who we are as a nation.
You want to become a citizen of the United States? Then you better understand the country you’re asking to join. That’s not harsh—that’s fair. We ask our high schoolers to learn this stuff. Why shouldn’t we expect the same from folks who want to take an oath to defend and uphold our laws?
The Trump administration is also bringing back stronger checks on who’s applying. That includes a more detailed look at each person’s background—not just checking if they’ve stayed out of trouble, but asking what good they’ve done in their community. Are they hard workers? Do they give back? Do they respect our laws and our way of life?
USCIS now makes it clear: if someone has voted or registered to vote illegally, or lied about being a U.S. citizen, that’s a deal-breaker. That’s how it should be. Citizenship is a privilege, not a participation trophy. You don’t get to cheat your way in.
There’s also a focus on making sure people really speak English and understand our system of government. If you’ve lived here for 20 years and still can’t speak the language or explain what the Constitution is, maybe you’re not ready to become a citizen. That’s not mean—that’s protecting the value of what it means to be an American.
The Biden years were all about lowering the bar, making it easier for people to get through the process without actually proving they shared our values. But Trump is bringing the bar back where it belongs. He’s making sure that only those willing to learn, contribute, and truly become part of this great nation get the honor of citizenship.
Bottom line: these changes are about respect. Respect for the nation, respect for the people who fought and died for our freedoms, and respect for the idea that becoming an American is a serious, life-changing commitment.
This isn’t about shutting people out. It’s about making sure the ones we let in are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, not just take from the system. As someone who wore the uniform, I say it’s about time we brought some backbone and pride back into the process. And President Trump is doing just that.
Good job, Mr. President. Let’s keep America strong, one real citizen at a time.
