Can American Samoa Run for President?

Imagine a U.S. presidential candidate who hails from a distant land, part of the United States but often forgotten: American Samoa. Yes, you read that right. This tiny Pacific territory, about 2,500 miles south of Hawaii, is U.S. soil, and its people are American nationals. But here’s the twist: while they serve in the military at higher rates than any other U.S. region and can run for certain federal offices, they cannot vote for president in the general election, nor can anyone from American Samoa run for the presidency.

At first glance, this might sound counterintuitive. After all, American Samoa is part of the United States. Its residents pledge allegiance to the flag, follow federal law, and, yes, even pay some taxes. So why on earth are they excluded from the highest political office in the country?

Here’s where things get tricky. American Samoans are considered U.S. nationals, not U.S. citizens, unless they go through a naturalization process. This status has implications: while they can live and work in the United States and its territories, they’re not fully citizens. This legal distinction comes from a series of Supreme Court rulings known as the Insular Cases, which determined that full constitutional rights don't automatically extend to unincorporated territories like American Samoa.

So, why can't someone born in American Samoa run for president? The answer lies in the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution requires that a presidential candidate be a "natural-born citizen," and because American Samoans are U.S. nationals but not citizens, they don't meet this requirement.

But here’s the catch: if an American Samoan moves to a U.S. state, becomes a naturalized citizen, and lives there long enough to establish residency, they could theoretically run for office at other levels, but not the presidency. That’s right: even if someone from American Samoa becomes a naturalized citizen, they still wouldn’t qualify to run for president because they weren’t a “natural-born citizen.”

Let’s break down why this happens: The concept of "natural-born citizen" has been debated for centuries. Some scholars argue that this only applies to people born on U.S. soil or to U.S. citizen parents, while others believe that anyone who is a citizen at birth should qualify. American Samoans fall into a gray area—they're U.S. nationals, meaning they’re born under U.S. sovereignty but don’t have full citizenship rights unless they take steps to naturalize.

Now, let’s dive deeper. Could this change? There have been legal challenges over the years. Advocates argue that American Samoans serve their country in the military, pay taxes, and contribute to U.S. society just like citizens from any state, so they should be afforded full citizenship rights automatically. In 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled against this argument, stating that Congress has the authority to decide citizenship rights for territories.

The reality is that until the U.S. Congress changes the law or the Supreme Court reexamines the Insular Cases, this legal distinction will remain. For now, American Samoans who dream of the Oval Office are out of luck—at least directly. But it doesn’t stop them from playing influential roles in other areas of U.S. politics.

In fact, American Samoans have made their mark. Eni Faleomavaega, who represented American Samoa as a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for over two decades, was a prominent voice in Congress. While delegates from territories like American Samoa can’t vote on final legislation, they can contribute to discussions and votes in committees, making their impact felt on Capitol Hill.

Another intriguing factor: American Samoans can vote in U.S. presidential primaries. In 2016, American Samoa made headlines when it played a critical role in the Democratic primary. Hillary Clinton received the majority of delegates from American Samoa, helping her clinch the nomination. However, when the general election comes around, residents of American Samoa have no electoral college votes to cast.

This exclusion creates a paradox where American Samoans, despite their deep commitment to the United States, including disproportionately high enlistment in the military, are still second-class citizens when it comes to the nation’s highest office. It raises the question: How can a territory so integrated into the U.S. fabric be excluded from the very democracy it supports?

But, it’s not all bleak. American Samoa has its own local government and elects a governor. However, its relationship with the United States remains unique. It’s the only U.S. territory where residents have the right to retain their traditional communal land system and unique cultural practices, known as Fa'a Samoa. This preservation of culture is seen by many as a crucial aspect of American Samoa's identity.

In conclusion, while American Samoa is deeply intertwined with the United States in many respects, the legal and political barriers to running for president stem from its status as an unincorporated territory. Until those barriers are addressed—either through Congress or the courts—American Samoans will continue to be part of a complex, often frustrating relationship with the country they call home. It’s a stark reminder that not all who pledge allegiance to the flag enjoy the full benefits of American democracy. And for anyone born in American Samoa dreaming of becoming president, the road remains closed—for now.

What’s next for American Samoa? Perhaps future legal challenges will overturn old precedents, or maybe Congress will pass a bill that changes everything. Until then, the dream of an American Samoan president remains just that—a dream.