Question: what is the difference between an american citizen and an american national?
Answer: U.S. citizens are also considered to be U.S. nationals. U.S. law defines a national as “a person owing permanent allegiance to a state.” Since U.S. citizens owe allegiance to the U.S., they are both U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals. ... People who were born in American Samoa and Swains Island are U.S. nationals.