Trump Once Again Refers to ‘Blood Bath’ and Dehumanizes Migrants in Border Comments

Former President Donald J. Trump reignited his attacks on President Biden’s immigration policies during a speech in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he accused Biden of creating a “border blood bath” and used dehumanizing language to describe migrants entering the country illegally. Trump baselessly claimed that other countries were sending criminals and terrorists to the United States, despite immigration officials stating that most migrants are vulnerable families escaping poverty and violence.

During his speech, Trump defended his use of dehumanizing language towards immigrants accused of crimes, stating that they are not humans but animals. He also warned of a “blood bath for the country” if he were to lose in November, attributing the potential violence to Biden’s immigration policies.

The former president’s campaign has launched a website, BidenBloodbath.com, to highlight violent crimes involving undocumented immigrants and shift the focus to Biden’s handling of the border crisis. Trump’s remarks in Michigan aimed to stoke fears around immigration and border security, a tactic he successfully used in the 2016 election.

Democrats have pushed back against Trump’s framing, accusing him of exploiting tragedies involving immigrants for political gain. Senator Debbie Stabenow criticized Trump for exploiting the death of Ruby Garcia, a Michigan resident killed by an undocumented immigrant. Despite Trump’s attempts to connect immigration to violent crime, data does not support the idea that migrants are contributing to increases in crime.

As the 2024 election approaches, Trump’s focus on immigration and border security reflects his campaign strategy to appeal to voters in key battleground states like Michigan. The contrasting messages between the Trump and Biden campaigns highlight the importance of winning over moderate, independent, and undecided voters in swing states.