Trump provokes Democrats and Biden with criticism of border situation as ‘Border Bloodbath’
Donald Trump once again criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S.-Mexico border during a campaign event in two key midwestern swing states crucial to the 2024 election.
Speaking in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Trump accused Biden of allowing a “bloodbath” that was “destroying the country,” using language that has been condemned by Democrats. He referred to immigrants in the U.S. illegally suspected of crimes as “animals,” a term that experts warn can incite violence.
During his speech, Trump claimed that under Biden, every state has become a border state and every town a border town. He highlighted specific crimes committed by immigrants in the U.S. illegally to attack Biden, despite overall crime rates decreasing nationally. Polls show Trump has an edge over Biden on immigration issues as many voters are concerned about illegal border crossings.
Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the state holds its presidential primaries.
In his speech, Trump focused on the recent killing of Ruby Garcia, a Michigan woman, and incorrectly referred to her as a 17-year-old. The suspect, Brandon Ortiz-Vite, is a citizen of Mexico who had been deported previously following a drunken driving arrest.
Trump also mentioned the killing of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia, for which a Venezuelan man is charged. He referred to the suspect as an “illegal alien animal.”
Despite Trump’s rhetoric, FBI statistics show that overall violent crime decreased in the U.S. last year and Michigan saw a three-year low in violent crime in 2022.
Top Republicans in Michigan gathered to hear Trump speak in Grand Rapids, a county he won in 2016 but lost to Biden in 2020. Outside the event center, supporters lined the streets, while a small group advocating for immigration reform held a moment of silence for Garcia.
Biden’s campaign preempted Trump’s speech by accusing him of politicizing the deaths and sowing hate and division. The White House emphasized the positive impact of immigration on the U.S. economy, with recent gains in immigration boosting employment and sustaining growth.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer criticized Trump for walking away from a bipartisan border deal and emphasized the need for Congress and the president to address the issue at the southern border.
Trump has been using incendiary language to discuss the surge of migrants at the border, accusing Biden and the Democrats of trying to undermine the American system. He has made unsubstantiated claims about migrants and their impact on the country.
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