CIVICS TRUMP 2.0 PART 1

ON OCTOBER 20, 2025, THERE’S A NEW CIVICS TEST of naturalization. Well, sorta new. With careful reading, it’s more like “A New Trump Administration Low,” as described here back on December 8, 2020.

You may recall that 2020 was the year Trump 1.0 lost to Biden, and the latter chose to retain the Civics 2008 test in lieu of the former’s intended Civics 2020. Voice of America (remember it?) cited inanities of Civics 2020, such as substituting “citizens” where the Constitution clearing stated “the people.”

You’re encouraged to read the relevant SimanaitisSays from December 2020. In particular, “And again, we are reminded of the importance of Voice of America.” (Rest in its respected semi-peace.) 

In a very real sense, think of Trump 2.0 enhancing the absurdities of Trump 1.0. This time around, the 2025 Civics Test replaces the one administered almost continously since 2008.

In Parts 1 and 2 today and tomorrow, let’s contrast Civics 2008 and the (now rebirthed) Civics 2025—along with pronouncements suggesting the autocratic tendencies of Trump 2.0. 

From 2008: The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services document of 2008 began: “The 100 civics (history and government) questions and answers for the naturalization test are listed below. The civics test is an oral test and the USCIS Officer will ask the applicant up to 10 of the 100 civics questions. An applicant must answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly to pass the civics portion of the naturalization test.”

Also, there’s a caveat set in bold: “Although USCIS is aware that there may be additional correct answers to the 100 civics questions, applicants are encouraged to respond to the civics questions using the answers provided below.” 

As Of October 20, 2025: “USCIS will administer the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test to aliens who file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization on or after October 20, 2025.”

“The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test is an oral test consisting of 20 questions from the list of 128 civics test questions. You must answer 12 questions correctly to pass the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test. You will fail the test if you answer 9 of the 20 questions incorrectly.”

“Officers will stop asking questions when an alien answers 12 questions correctly, or 9 questions incorrectly.”

Contrasts. Apart from the snarky tone (“aliens,” “Officers will stop asking questions…”), here are arithmetic differences in the testing: The 2008 test had “up to 10 percent” of the basic 100 civics questions. The new test has 15.6 percent of the questions selected from a total of 128 (20/128). With 28 percent more possible questions (128/100), it’s a stiffer test. 

Passing remains arithmetically the same: 6/10 of the 2008 test; 12/20 for the new test. The jazz about “9/20 failing” only threatens the evaluation; it’s the ICE mask, as if one is needed. 

All Bets Are Off If…. The 2025 document adds: “If you are 65 years old or older and have been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the 20 questions that have been marked with an asterisk (*) found at the end of each question. You may also take the civics test in the language of your choice. The USCIS officer will ask you to answer 10 out of the 20 civics test questions with an asterisk. You must answer at least 6 out of 10 questions (or 60%) correctly to pass the 2025 version of the civics test.”

And…. Remember that bold-face “governments evolve” loophole? Old timers don’t get any free (2008) ride: From the 2025 version, “On the civics test, some answers may change because of elections or appointments. Visit uscis.gov/citizenship/testupdates to find any answers that may have changed on the civics test. You must answer the question with the name of the official serving at the time of your naturalization interview.” 

Geez, this is really raising the ante. “Question No. 48: What are two Cabinet-level positions?” Not just “what,” but who on the day of your naturalization?

Quick. Identify any two of these people (other than Trump 2.0, the guy with the eye shadow, or the one with the melanoma risk). Image by The White House from Wikipedia.

Tomorrow in Part 2 we see how Trump has corrupted this process even further. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2025