US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dodged a question at Monday’s briefing about whether naturalised US citizens of Middle Eastern descent might have their citizenships revoked over pro-Palestine speech.

“I’m not going to discuss the nature of the diplomatic or strategic conversations that any department in the government’s having,” she told reporters.

Asked later about whether she can confirm if pro-Israeli advocacy group Betar has provided the US government with lists of names recommended for deportation, Bruce only said, “Whether it exists or not, I won’t confirm,” and that the State Department has “broad authority”.