Newt Gingrich takes on GOP skepticism of legal immigration

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about his new PBS documentary “Journey to America: With Newt and Callista Gingrich,” his longstanding support for legal immigration, and the executive actions President Trump has taken in his first days in office.

Amid rising Republican skepticism of all immigration, Gingrich draws a sharp distinction between legal and illegal immigration, and he explains how the stories of nine immigrants told in the documentary–including Albert Einstein, Henry Kissinger, and Hedy Lamarr–exemplify the value of legal immigration.

Gingrich discusses the career of Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, an Afghan-born immigrant who helped the Trump administration negotiate the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan with the Taliban, and he assesses America’s responsibility to Afghan allies who were left behind. Reflecting on the life of Rep. Victoria Spartz, a Ukrainian immigrant, he also comments on the prospects for peace in Ukraine as Trump places new pressure on Russia.

Gingrich addresses Trump’s effort to redefine birthright citizenship, his refusal to enforce the TikTok ban passed by Congress, and his pardons of January 6th rioters who assaulted police officers. He also comments on whether Trump is likely to pursue investigations of former President Biden.

“Journey to America: With Newt and Callista Gingrich” is streaming now on PBS.org and the PBS app.

Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Peter and Mark Kalikow, The Asness Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Phillip I. Kent, and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.