HOME > AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL > Article
Trump-- immigrants bringing 'bad genes' into US
Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump said Monday that illegal immigrants were bringing bad genes into the United States, doubling down on previous inflammatory rhetoric about migrants poisoning the blood of the country.
Trump was criticizing his Democratic presidential rival Vice President Kamala Harris in a radio interview when he brought up government figures showing there were thousands of immigrants in the United States who were not in federal immigration detention, despite homicide convictions.
You know now, a murderer -- I believe this -- it's in their genes. We've got a lot of bad genes in our country right now, former president Trump told conservative host Hugh Hewitt.
The White House swiftly condemned Trump's comments as vile.
That type of language is hateful, it's disgusting, it's inappropriate, and has no place in our country, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters.
This comes from the same vile statements that we've heard about (how) migrants poison the blood, that's disgusting.
Jean-Pierre added: We're going to continue to forcefully reject this kind of vile, disturbing, hateful, hateful speech.
Trump was misconstruing data released in September by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
The figures cover a period spanning decades, including when Trump was president, and also don't include people incarcerated in places other than ICE facilities -- in state, local or other federal facilities, for example.
- Election issue -
Illegal immigration into the United States, especially over the southern border with Mexico, is a major issue in the November 5 US presidential election.
Polls show it remains a major vulnerability for Harris, with border crossings having risen to record highs at the end of 2023 under President Joe Biden, whom she replaced as the Democratic standard-bearer in July.
But US media reported Monday that migrant apprehensions at the US-Mexico border fell 75 percent year-on-year in September -- to the lowest level since the Trump administration -- citing Department of Homeland Security statistics.
Trump, who is neck-and-neck with Harris in nationwide and swing-state polling ahead, has spent much of his campaign demonizing both undocumented immigrants and those in the United States legally.
During a rally last month, the 78-year-old former reality TV star said Harris should be prosecuted over Biden's border policies and called illegal immigrants animals, out to rape, pillage, thieve, plunder and kill.
They will walk into your kitchen, they'll cut your throat, he said.
And he repeatedly threatened legal Haitian residents in Ohio with deportation, falsely accusing them of eating locals' pets.
Trump -- the oldest major-party White House candidate in history and the first convicted felon to run -- accused immigrants of poisoning the blood of our country in December in a phrase that earned him comparisons to Adolf Hitler.
(2024/10/08 17:02)
Click Here for Japanese TranslationAFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL
- 10/11 17:33 Harry's Bar in Paris drinks to US straw-poll centenary
- 10/11 17:27 MLB Twins up for sale after 40 years
- 10/11 15:26 Erdogan says Gaza 'shame of humanity', calls for permanent ceasfire
- 10/11 15:16 A very stiff breeze-- BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- 10/11 15:15 Federer lauds retiring Nadal's 'incredible achievements'
- 10/11 15:13 UN probe accuses Israel of seeking to 'destroy' Gaza healthcare
- 10/10 18:12 As Great Salt Lake dries, Utah Republicans pardon Trump climate skepticism
- 10/10 18:09 Wildlife populations plunge 73% since 1970-- WWF
- 10/10 18:07 McIlroy and DeChambeau set for PGA-LIV 'Showdown' in Vegas
- 10/10 18:05 Biden slams Trump for 'onslaught of lies' over hurricanes
- 10/10 16:55 Activists target Picasso work to protest Israel arms sales
- 10/10 16:53 Greek international Baldock, 31, found dead in pool-- state agency
- 10/09 21:59 Gilded canopy restored at Vatican basilica
- 10/09 21:53 Pyongyang to 'permanently' shut border with South Korea
- 10/09 21:45 Nepali becomes youngest to climb world's 8,000m peaks
- 10/09 17:38 Jurgen Klopp to return as head of Red Bull football operations
- 10/09 17:03 Syria says seven civilians killed in Israel Damascus strike
- 10/09 17:00 Osama bin Laden's son Omar banned from returning to France
- 10/08 20:26 Australia moves to expand Antarctic marine park
- 10/08 18:23 Musk says he is 'all in' on Trump in US election
- 10/08 18:21 Tampa zoo rushes Chompers the porcupine and others to safety as Milton nears
- 10/08 18:08 Harris-- 'Of course' I've fired my Glock
- 10/08 18:06 Barca hoping to return to Camp Nou 'by end of year'
- 10/08 17:02 Trump-- immigrants bringing 'bad genes' into US
- 10/07 17:13 Rescuers say 17 dead in Gaza as Israel troops encircle Jabaliya
- 10/07 17:10 Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- 10/07 17:06 In France's Marseille, teen 'stabbed 50 times' then burned alive
- 10/07 17:03 Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- 10/07 17:00 Haiti reeling after 70 killed in gang attack
- 10/07 16:55 India asks top court to heed marital rape leniency
- 10/04 19:25 Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'
- 10/04 19:22 Sinner not 'comfortable' as doping case clouds Shanghai campaign
- 10/04 19:19 Dolphins flash friendly grins when they're ready to play
- 10/04 19:18 Milan's Morata moves house after Inter-fan town mayor 'violates' privacy
- 10/04 16:53 'Devastating' storm hits Augusta National but Masters will go on
- 10/03 19:32 Paris Olympics sports equipment moves to new homes
- 10/03 19:29 'Heartbreaking'-- Biden, Harris tour storm areas as deaths surpass 160
- 10/03 19:28 Deadly Israeli strike on central Beirut after soldiers killed
- 10/03 19:26 NBA legend Jordan files anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR
- 10/03 19:25 South America treated to rare 'ring of fire' eclipse
- 10/03 19:24 Hamas claims Tel Aviv shooting attack that killed seven