By Trendsetter Tribune 
In a stark escalation of political and racial tensions, Aaron Reitz, a leading Republican candidate for Texas Attorney General, called for the “de-naturalization” of Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu on February 9, 2026.
The threat follows the viral circulation of a 28-second clip from a 2024 interview in which Wu discussed the potential power of non-white voting blocs.
The “Subversive” Allegation
Reitz, a former Deputy Attorney General and Marine veteran, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Wu is a “subversive” who likely “concealed his anti-American sentiment” during his citizenship application. Reitz claimed that if elected, he would seek to have Wu’s citizenship revoked, citing the representative’s comments about “oppressors” as evidence of naturalization fraud.
- Reitz’s Position: “Wu is a subversive whose citizenship should be revoked… he likely concealed his anti-American sentiment throughout his citizenship app process.”
- Context of Wu’s Comments: In the full 2024 interview, Wu was discussing how various immigrant and minority communities in Texas could find common ground to win elections. The clip specifically focused on his quote: “The day the Latino, African American, Asian and other communities realize that they share the same oppressor is the day we start winning.”
Federal Law vs. Political Rhetoric
Despite Reitz’s pledge, the legal path to denaturalization is extremely narrow and falls under federal, not state, jurisdiction.
| Requirement for Denaturalization | Legal Reality |
| Jurisdiction | Only federal courts can revoke citizenship; a state Attorney General has no direct authority to do so. |
| Grounds for Revocation | Must prove willful misrepresentation or concealment of material fact at the time of application. |
| Rare Occurrence | Historically, only about 11 to 15 cases were filed annually until 2025. |
| Current Policy | The Trump administration recently issued guidance for 2026 setting quotas for field offices to identify 100–200 potential cases per month. |
The GOP Primary Landscape
The attack on Wu comes as the Republican primary for Attorney General enters its final weeks before the March 3, 2026 election. Reitz is positioning himself as the most aggressive candidate in a crowded field that includes U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, who has also called for Wu’s resignation but stopped short of calling for denaturalization.
- Current Polling (Dec 2025): Chip Roy leads with 49%, followed by State Sen. Joan Huffman (10%) and Aaron Reitz (6%).
- The “Quorum” Legal Battle: Wu already faces two lawsuits before the Texas Supreme Court, filed by Governor Greg Abbott and AG Ken Paxton, seeking to remove him from office for his 2025 decision to break quorum and block a Republican-led redistricting map.
“It Will Not Just Be Illegal Immigrants”
Representative Wu, who immigrated from China as a child and became a naturalized citizen, has warned that the administration’s new focus on denaturalization targets more than just undocumented individuals. In the same 2024 interview now being used against him, Wu noted, “When the mass deportation begins, I promise you it will not just be illegal immigrants who are affected. It will be Americans.”