Trump plans to attend Wednesday's Supreme Court hearing on his bid to limit birthright citizenship

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to sit in on Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship, making him the first sitting president to attend oral arguments at the nation’s highest court.

The Republican president’s official schedule, sent out by the White House, included a stop at the Supreme Court, where justices will hear Trump’s appeal of a lower court ruling that struck down his executive order limiting birthright citizenship.

The order, which Trump signed on the first day of his second term, declared that children born to parents who are in the United States illegally or temporarily are not American citizens. It’s an about-face from the long-standing view that the Constitution’s 14th Amendment and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship to everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions.

It’s not the first time Trump has considered showing up for a high court hearing. Last year, Trump said that he badly wanted to attend a hearing on whether he overstepped federal law with his sweeping tariffs, but he decided against it, saying it would have been a distraction.

On Tuesday, however, Trump seemed more sure he’d be in court for Wednesday’s hearing while he spoke with reporters in the Oval Office.

“I’m going,” Trump said, when the upcoming arguments in the birthright citizenship case were mentioned. To a follow-up question clarifying that he planned to go in person, Trump said, “I think so, I do believe.”

Trump went to the Supreme Court in his first term for the ceremonial swearing-in of the first justice he appointed, Neil Gorsuch. Two other justices he appointed — Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — also sit on the court.

Other presidents have dealt directly with the court, but don’t appear to have done so while in office. Richard Nixon argued a case between his time as vice president and president, and William Howard Taft served as chief justice after his presidency.

Trump, asked to whom he would be listening most closely, went on a lengthy detour Tuesday describing a court he viewed as mostly partisan, between justices appointed by Republican and Democratic presidents.

“I love a few of them,” he said. “I don’t like some others.”

The citizenship restrictions are a part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, but they have not yet taken effect anywhere in the country after being blocked by several courts.

A definitive ruling from the Supreme Court is expected by early summer.

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Washington, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Zach Eflin's first start since July lasted less than four innings.

The Baltimore right-hander was abruptly pulled from Tuesday night's game against the Texas Rangers in the fourth with right elbow discomfort. The Orioles went on to lose 8-5. Manager Craig Albernaz said afterward Eflin would have imaging Wednesday and would likely end up on the injured list.

“I feel for Zach. Everything he went through last year, works his butt off this offseason, back surgery, he looked great in camp,” Albernaz said. “Did everything that he could do and beyond, and something like that — the whole coaching staff, the whole team, we just feel for him.”

Eflin looked sharp for the most part, striking out seven in 3 2/3 innings and allowing only one run on a solo homer by Ezequiel Duran in the third. With two on and two out in the fourth, there was a meeting on the mound when Duran came to the plate again. Eflin threw one more pitch, a ball, and then there was another meeting — this one including Albernaz.

Eflin was lifted and replaced by reliever Grant Wolfram, who got the third out.

“He felt something, and that's why we got Wolfie going," Albernaz said. "And then we saw the next pitch, and I was like, ‘Nah, we’ve got to make a move here.'”

The Orioles re-signed Eflin to a one-year deal for $10 million this past offseason. It includes a $25 million mutual option or a $2 million buyout for 2027, with escalators for both: $1 million if he makes 15 starts this year, $1.5 million for 20 and $2.5 million for 25.

Eflin went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA during an injury-plagued 2025 for the Orioles, and his season ended early because of back issues.

If Eflin has to miss significant time, Dean Kremer is an option after he was sent down to start the season in the minors.

But it's a blow to the Orioles if they couldn't make it one time through the rotation without losing a starter.

“It's tough. Any time you see any one of your guys feel something barking, you're hoping for the best,” said slugger Pete Alonso, who hit his first homer as an Oriole on Tuesday. “It straight-up stinks. Zach's a good dude and a really, really hard worker. He's a guy that, I hope everything's OK.”

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Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)