Trump’s dangerous ‘enemy’ rhetoric calls immigrants animals and murderers and promises mass deportations
Trump has focused his presidential campaign on the migration crisis, but has called immigrants the “enemy” — dangerous rhetoric.
During this election campaign, migration has been one of the central themes. Both Harris and Trump have proposed increasing security on the country’s southern border. However, the former president has adopted more dangerous rhetoric, as he has called immigrants “enemies” and “invaders,” as well as describing them as “murderers” and “animals.”
Trump has repeatedly said that if he becomes president again, he will implement the largest mass deportation program in U.S. history. The Republican has suggested using the military to pursue the “enemy.”
In addition, several of the former president's statements contribute to misinformation and generate hatred towards specific groups in the migrant community. For example, when he accused Haitian immigrants of eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.
The consequences of Trump's anti-immigrant speeches
Such speeches, besides being racist and xenophobic, can be dangerous, as someone could get hurt due to misinformation. The Haitian Times reported that following Trump's false statements, Haitian immigrants in Springfield have suffered property damage and are keeping their children home from school for fear of attacks.
The Springfield City Council has also reported several incidents related to claims made about Haitian immigrants.
“What we’re deeply concerned about is that there are now elected officials in the Republican Party who are pushing yet another conspiracy theory that is just seeking to divide people based on lies and, let’s be honest, based on an element of racism,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in September in reaction to the Republican’s false claim about pet consumption.
“This type of language, this type of misinformation, is dangerous because there are going to be people who believe it no matter how ridiculous and stupid it is, and they might act on that type of information and act on it in a way that could potentially hurt someone,” Kirby added, according to a CNBC report.