With just over a month to the 2024 general election, Donald Trump's offensive rhetoric against Vice President Kamala Harris and immigrants have taken serious turns.
Trump’s Harsh Criticism of Harris
In a recent campaign stop in the small Wisconsin city of Prairie du Chien, Trump referred to Harris as “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled.”
His statements came as a response to Harris' visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, where she outlined her approach to addressing the immigration crisis, including tighter asylum restrictions and efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking.
Trump, however, derided her proposals, claimed she is out of touch with the gravity of the situation, and used unethical statements in an attempt to undermine her credibility and fitness for office.
The former president blamed Harris and Democratic President Joe Biden for allowing undocumented immigrants into the U.S., accusing some migrants of wanting to "rape, pillage, thieve, plunder and kill the people of the United States of America,” and added that America will become a “third world hellhole,” if Kamala Harris is elected the 47th president of the USA.
During this speech, Trump also mentioned that he is a victim of political injustice and reiterated false claims regarding his 2020 election loss.
Sarafina Chitika, a Harris spokesperson, said after Trump's speech: "He's got nothing 'inspiring' to offer the American people, just darkness."
Harris, meanwhile, has not shied away from responding to Trump’s accusations, accusing him of “fanning the flames of division and fear,” especially on the issue of immigration.
Immigration Being Trump’s Core Campaign Issue
Immigration has long been a focal point of Trump’s political story, and in the 2024 election, it remains an issue.
In the last couple of days, Trump’s speeches have become increasingly focused on undocumented immigrants, particularly those accused of violent crimes.
Flanked by banners reading “End Migrant Crime” and “Deport Illegals Now,” Trump has described certain immigrant groups as “monsters” and “vile animals.” His speeches also tend to mention American families who have lost loved ones to crimes allegedly committed by immigrants, but critics argue that this rhetoric reinforces harmful stereotypes and scapegoats immigrant communities.
Despite all these, Harris has positioned herself as the candidate of pragmatic solutions, aiming to fix what she has called a “broken immigration system.”
Closing Note
As the 2024 election draws nearer, Trump’s campaign rhetoric continues to escalate, particularly in his attacks on Kamala Harris and immigrants.
While polls reveal Harris gaining ground on Trump among registered voters, Trump’s language has drawn criticism from opponents who see it as divisive and harmful. By painting immigrants as criminals and Harris as an ineffective leader, Trump is betting on fear as a powerful motivator for voters.
The rest of the world can only watch how this affects the outcome of the US presidential elections.