Maxine Waters Sparks Outrage with Remarks Targeting Melania Trump and Election Conspiracies
California Congresswoman Maxine Waters is facing renewed backlash after making a series of inflammatory and conspiratorial statements during recent public appearances. Waters, a longtime critic of Donald Trump, used an anti-Trump rally in Los Angeles over the weekend to question First Lady Melania Trump’s immigration status and suggest she could be deported.
Waters Targets Melania Trump’s Citizenship
Speaking to a crowd of anti-Trump demonstrators, Waters referenced former President Trump’s tough stance on immigration and birthright citizenship, then pivoted to attack Melania Trump directly.
“When he talks about birthright… maybe he ought to first look at Melania,” Waters said. “We don’t know whether or not her parents were documented. And maybe we better just take a look.”
Waters’ implication that Melania Trump, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Slovenia, may be undocumented sparked widespread criticism. Melania arrived in the U.S. legally in 1996, obtained a green card in 2001 through the EB-1 program, and became a citizen in 2006—facts that are publicly documented and verified.
Conspiratorial Claims About Elon Musk and the 2024 Election
This is not the first time Waters has drawn controversy in recent weeks. Earlier this month, she suggested that billionaire Elon Musk may have tampered with the 2024 presidential election to secure Trump’s victory.
“We don’t know everything that Elon Musk has done, with his high technology ass,” Waters said. “We’re not going to give up in investigating and finding out.”
Some on the far left have floated baseless theories that Musk’s Starlink satellite network may have played a role in altering election results—though no credible evidence has emerged to support such claims.
Waters has a history of pushing election-related conspiracies. She previously echoed debunked claims that Russia hacked the 2016 election and has now turned her attention to tech moguls like Musk in connection with the 2024 vote.
Civil War Rhetoric Raises Concerns
Adding to the controversy, Waters claimed last week that Trump is intentionally trying to incite civil unrest in the United States.
“I believe [Trump] expects violence,” she said during a press conference. “I believe he’s working toward a civil war.”
These remarks have drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with some calling them reckless and inflammatory. Critics argue that such rhetoric contributes to political polarization and undermines democratic institutions.
Growing Scrutiny of Waters’ Public Statements
Waters’ increasingly aggressive tone and embrace of conspiracy theories have reignited debate over the standards of discourse expected from elected officials. While she continues to be a prominent voice within the Democratic Party, her comments are drawing renewed scrutiny from political observers and constituents alike.
Calls for accountability have grown, with many questioning the appropriateness of her targeting a former First Lady’s citizenship and spreading unsubstantiated claims about election tampering. As political tensions remain high across the country, Waters’ statements are likely to remain in the spotlight.