Trump attends Supreme Court hearing on birthright citizenship in historic first

The US Supreme Court has heard arguments concerning Donald Trump's executive order to end automatic birthright citizenship – in a hearing attended by the US president.

Mr Trump's presence in the US's highest court on Wednesday marked a historic first for a sitting president. The court had been considering the Trump administration's appeal of a lower court ruling that struck down the US president's executive order scrapping birthright citizenship for babies born to illegal and temporary migrants.

The Trump administration has argued that birthright citizenship, which is enshrined under the 14th amendment of the US constitution, has been exploited by immigrants to remain in the US. Mr Trump, who wore a red tie and dark suit, sat in the first row of the public section of the courtroom.

After listening to the opening arguments for just over an hour, Mr Trump left the hearing. The more than two-hour-long hearing heard arguments from US solicitor general John Sauer, representing the Trump administration, and American Civil Liberties Union, which has challenged the executive order.

Mr Sauer told the court "unrestricted birthright citizenship contradicts the practice of the overwhelming majority of modern nations". "It demeans the priceless and profound gift of American citizenship," he said.

"It operates as a powerful pull factor for illegal immigration and rewards illegal aliens who not only violate the immigration laws but also jump ​in front of those who follow the rules." Mr Sauer argued a caveat in the 14th amendment that says birthright citizenship will be granted "subject to the jurisdiction thereof.