The Department of Homeland Security Confirms Trump Administration Reviewing “Patriotic” Gameshow Pitch
In an eyebrow-raising twist that could make George Orwell’s ghost howl with disbelief, the Trump administration is mulling a TV show where immigrants compete for the ultimate prize: American citizenship. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed it has reviewed a pitch for the show, which would see contestants vying in civic quizzes and outlandish tasks in a bid for the coveted blue passport.
Producer Rob Worsoff, who is a Canadian-American citizen, says he was inspired by his own naturalisation experience, and envisions challenges as bold as building rockets at NASA headquarters. “We need a national conversation about what it means to be American,” he said, stressing that losers wouldn’t face deportation—at least not on live TV.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, “We’re happy to review out-of-the-box pitches,” adding that the proposal had neither been approved nor rejected.
The idea comes as President Trump has unleashed a wave of hardline immigration measures since his return to office in January, including ordering “mass deportations” and invoking the Alien Enemies Act to expel alleged gang members to Central and South America.
Meanwhile, DHS is requesting 20,000 National Guard troops from various states to join the hunt for undocumented immigrants—reinforcements for the paltry 7,700 staffers at the federal Enforcement and Removals Operations agency. So far, 10,000 troops have already been marshalled to the militarised U.S.-Mexico border, where some now have the power to detain migrants directly.
While the gameshow has yet to find a network, the proposal has already sparked debate over how far the spectacle of American identity can—or should—go.
