Politics

‘The Math Ain’t Mathin’ Here’: Rep. Crockett Questions Melania Trump’s Immigration Path

By Jake Beardslee · June 26, 2025

Rep. Jasmine Crockett asks questions during Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle’s congressional hearing. Megan Smith / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

During a House Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration Wednesday, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) launched a sharp critique of Republican priorities and singled out First Lady Melania Trump’s immigration history for scrutiny.

The hearing, titled “Restoring Integrity and Security to the Visa Process,” focused on GOP efforts to tighten visa policies. Crockett challenged the premise outright. “The idea that Trump and my Republican colleagues want to restore integrity and security in the visa process is actually a joke,” she said.

Crockett condemned prior immigration enforcement tactics, saying, “Integrity isn’t snatching lawful visa holders off the streets and throwing them into unmarked vans. Integrity is not revoking visas based on social media posts that hurt somebody’s little feelings, because kids decided they want to go after Trump or this administration. We have a thing called free speech in this country.”

Crockett then shifted focus to Melania Trump, critiquing her receipt of an EB-1 visa, a category often referred to as the “Einstein visa,” which is reserved for individuals with extraordinary ability in fields such as science, art, education, or athletics. “Melania, the first lady — a model, and when I say model, I’m not talking Tyra Banks, Cindy Crawford or Naomi Campbell-level — applied for and was given an EB-1 visa,” Crockett said.

“To gain an ‘Einstein visa,’ you’re supposed to have some sort of significant achievement, like being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer, being an Olympic medalist, or having other sustained extraordinary abilities and success,” she added. “Last time I checked, the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt. It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that the math ain’t mathin’ here.”

Libertarian Cato Institute analyst Alex Nowrasteh responded with a quip. “Not everybody could marry Donald Trump and I think that’s quite an achievement, so I think she deserves credit for that,” he said, adding, “Nobody up here could have done it.” Crockett laughed, replying, “You sure are right. I couldn’t do it.”