Former US President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrat Kamala Harris on Saturday, calling her "mentally impaired." He accused illegal immigrants of threatening the safety of Americans, claiming they would "cut the throats" of ordinary citizens in their homes. These remarks are part of his intensified, racially charged rhetoric as he continues his campaign to regain the U.S. presidency.
According to an AFP report, Trump’s comments followed Harris's visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, where she promised to strengthen efforts to manage asylum claims and reduce undocumented crossings. This issue has been a weak point in polling for Harris, who is closely competing with Trump in the November 5 election.
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Dismissing Harris's border speech, Trump told supporters in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, that President Joe Biden and Harris were responsible for an "invasion" of violent criminals. Anti-immigrant rhetoric has long been central to Trump's appeal in economically struggling, majority-white regions, and he has escalated his language as Election Day approaches.
Trump, the first major U.S. presidential candidate to be a convicted felon and currently facing multiple court cases, labelled Harris as "dumb." "Joe Biden became mentally impaired. Kamala was born that way. She was born that way. And if you think about it, only a mentally disabled person could have allowed this to happen to our country," he was quoted as saying by AFP.
Meanwhile, Harris was attending a fundraiser in San Francisco, California, where she responded to Trump's attacks, stating that he was using the "same tired playbook we've heard for years" and framing the election as a choice between two distinct visions for the country.
Trump Claims Towns In America Terrified of Illegal Immigrants
In Wisconsin, Trump stood on stage with large mugshots of migrants accused of crimes, depicting a dire picture of America under attack, despite a drop in illegal border crossings and a decline in crime rates, according to the FBI. Trump claimed illegal immigrants would invade homes and "cut our throats."
"Small towns in America are terrified of migrants coming in, and even when they haven't arrived, they’re terrified," he said. "They will rape, pillage, thieve, plunder, and kill the people of the United States of America."
He also referred to illegal immigrants as "animals," claiming they would take jobs from minorities and union workers. In response to Harris’s bid on Friday to deliver a stringent message on the Mexican border, Trump cursed during the nationally streamed event and labelled her "a liar."
Trump expressed frustration that Fox News, the conservative network that has consistently supported him during his presidency, aired Kamala Harris's speech. "They shouldn’t be allowed to put it on," he said.
Recognising the unusual tone of his speech, Trump acknowledged that it differed from what Americans typically hear during presidential campaigns. At one point, he paused to say, "Isn’t this a wonderful and inspiring speech? I see people in the front row thinking, 'oh my God.'" He then added, "This is dark, this is dark."