Former ESPN sports analyst Jason Whitlock is one of the most polarizing figures in present-day media. Formerly a columnist for the Kansas City Star and analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports, Whitlock now hosts a podcast for the ultra-conservative media company, Blaze Media.
He still delves into sports, though, and often shares his opinion on current happenings in the athletic world, especially when they give him the chance to express his conservative values and beliefs.
As most everyone is aware, the FIFA World Cup is currently being played, and Monday will pit the United States against Belgium. Recently, it was reported that Folarin Balogun will be eligible to play for the Americans after his red card in their previous match was taken back.
Former ESPN analyst Jason Whitlock claims Folarin Balogun isn’t American
One of the hottest topics in the current American political landscape is that of birthright citizenship. That is, the constitutional right of citizenship bestowed on every individual born in the United States, even if their parents themselves are not American citizens. The Supreme Court just upheld this right in a recent ruling, and many conservatives, including Whitlock, are not happy about it.
And that unhappiness was expressed in his opinion about Balogun when news broke that he was going to be allowed to play:
Balogun is a Nigerian who grew up in London. I’m glad his suspension got revoked, but I’m not going to pretend he’s American. The Globalism World Cup.
— Jason Whitlock (@jasonwhitlock) July 5, 2026
The problem with Whitlock’s post is that, by law, Balogun is an American citizen. As the community note posted under his initial statements reads, “Folarin Balogun was born in Brooklyn, New York, and is a U.S. citizen by birth. Although he moved to London as an infant and was raised there, his birthright citizenship is what makes him eligible to represent the USMNT.”
In response to the note, Whitlock retorted, “They put a ‘community note’ on this post. Balogun did not “move” to London as an infant. An infant doesn’t move. His family RETURNED to London after being here very briefly. How do you ‘community note’ my opinion that I don’t regard Balogun as an American?”
It would seem that Whitlock, who is African American, is having a hard time understanding the idea of birthright citizenship, which was first added as an amendment to the United States Constitution after the Civil War to make all who had been enslaved official American citizens.
