The acting director of Citizenship and Immigration Services on Tuesday added his own take to the “huddled masses” poem on the Statue of Liberty to include accepting migrants who can “stand on their own two feet.”

Ken Cuccinelli was responding to a question about whether the Trump administration’s updated requirements for getting a green card were in the spirit of Emma Lazarus’ words etched on Lady Liberty.

“Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge,” Cuccinelli responded on NPR’s “Morning Edition.”

Cuccinelli on Monday announced the rule change that redefines a “public charge” as an immigrant who is likely to end up receiving some kind of public assistance, including Medicaid, housing vouchers and food stamps.

Asked about Cuccinelli’s comments, President Trump said it conforms with his “America First” policy.

“I don’t think it’s fair to have the American taxpayer paying for people to come into the United States,” the president said.

“So what we’ve done is institute what took place many, many years ago — at our founding, virtually. But we are just reinstituting it. And I think it’s long overdue,” he said, referring to the “public charge” term that Congress initially approved in 1882 to ensure immigrants are self-sufficient.

NPR’s Rachel Martin asked Cuccinelli if the new rule, which takes effect Oct. 15, still jibes with the democratic ideal of the American dream that newcomers can achieve success even if they arrive penniless.

Cuccinelli said it does not alter what makes America “exceptional.”