0:38President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Aug. 6, 2025.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
On Thursday, President Donald Trump called for the initiation of a new census as redistricting disputes escalate nationwide.
In a post on social media, Trump revealed that he has instructed the Commerce Department to "promptly commence work on a new and highly precise CENSUS based on contemporary facts and figures, utilizing the outcomes and data acquired from the Presidential Election of 2024."
"Individuals residing in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE CENSUS," Trump emphasized.
The U.S. Census Bureau states that it "gathers data from all foreign-born individuals who take part in its censuses and surveys, irrespective of legal status" and has maintained this practice throughout its 235-year existence. This data influences how the 435 House seats are allocated among the 50 states every decade.
Trump’s declaration on Thursday occurs amidst a confrontation in Texas regarding a proposed congressional map that, if implemented, could provide Republicans with three to five additional U.S. House seats in the upcoming midterm elections.
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Aug. 6, 2025.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Texas Democrats have left the state in protest, preventing Republicans from obtaining the necessary quorum to vote on the proposed changes. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is currently seeking legal repercussions for those lawmakers, directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to locate and apprehend lawmakers who departed the state and requesting the Texas Supreme Court to oust a prominent Texas House Democrat from office.
With the potential control of the U.S. House at risk, Democrats from blue states are pledging to retaliate similarly should Texas Republicans succeed in altering their map.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have stated they will look into methods for gerrymandering their maps. Both states currently utilize independent commissions to delineate their maps following constitutional amendments.
Additionally, more Republican governors are considering the possibility of redrawing congressional maps prior to the 2026 elections due to the GOP’s slim margins in the House. Democrats would need to gain only three seats next November to reclaim the House.
Vice President JD Vance is visiting Indiana on Thursday to discuss redistricting and other matters with Republican leaders.
During his first term, Trump attempted to modify the U.S. census to exclude noncitizens. In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the Commerce Department’s effort to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census was in violation of federal law.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
