citizens can t become president. but without amending the constitution or getting a definitive ruling from the u.s. supreme court, it s just wrong to say, as senator cruz has tried to say, that it s a settled matter it. isn t settled. well, let s listen to what your former student said about this just yesterday. as a legal matter, the question is quite straightforward and settled law, that the child of a u.s. citizen born abroad is a natural-born citizen. people will continue to make political noise about it, but as a legal matter it s quite straightforward. professor, you want to grade that as an answer on an am? i wou exam? i would say incomplete. he was a good student. he was a smart student. he got an a.