In a recent appearance at his Florida country club, Mar-a-Lago, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump reiterated his staunch stance on immigration. This comes amidst criticisms from Democrats, highlighting what they describe as racist rhetoric from Trump and his allies in the final days leading up to the presidential election.
During his speech, Trump acknowledged the backlash from his rally at Madison Square Garden in New York, where comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s remarks about Puerto Rico and Latino immigrants stirred controversy. However, he refrained from addressing the uproar directly.
Trump described the atmosphere at the New York rally as a “lovefest,” dismissing comparisons to a 1939 American Nazi rally held at the same venue. “I don’t think anybody has ever seen anything like what happened the other night at Madison Square Garden, the love, the love, the love in that room. It was breathtaking,” he stated.
Continuing his campaign’s central theme, Trump emphasized his hard-line immigration policy, using divisive language to characterize the issue. He underscored the border situation as the “single biggest issue” facing the country.
He also made unfounded claims about Venezuelan gangs in Aurora, Colorado, and alleged, without evidence, that 325,000 migrant children had been trafficked into the U.S. as slaves. Despite the event being promoted as a press conference, Trump did not entertain questions from the media.
Harris, DNC keep Puerto Rico in spotlight
In response, Democrats, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, contrasted Trump’s rhetoric with a more inclusive message. Harris, campaigning in Pennsylvania, condemned Trump’s divisive tactics, saying, “Donald Trump spends full time trying to have Americans point their finger at each other, fans the fuel of hate and division.”
The Democratic National Committee released a statement highlighting Harris’s visit to a Puerto Rican restaurant, coinciding with Hinchcliffe’s derogatory comments. The DNC criticized Trump’s agenda as one driven by “hate and extremism,” and announced plans for billboard ads in Puerto Rican communities across Pennsylvania.
These billboards will prominently feature headlines quoting Hinchcliffe, aimed at raising awareness among the approximately 8% of Puerto Ricans residing in the state.
Trump tries reversal
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump attempted to portray Harris and the Democrats as threats to American values, continuing a narrative that positions his political adversaries as internal enemies. Such language has been noted by experts to dangerously approach fascist rhetoric.
Despite promoting a campaign of love, Trump accused Harris of running “a campaign of hate.” He described her as a “vessel” for a powerful and “vicious” party allegedly intent on undermining the country.
This story was originally published by News From The States
