It’s about the people crossing the border.
During an interview with New York radio station WABC, former President Donald Trump asserted that individuals crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are bringing contagious diseases with them, likening them to terrorists. Trump expressed concern over what he perceived as a sudden surge in diseases like tuberculosis, which he claimed hadn’t been a prominent issue in the country for years.
Trump had previously made similar assertions in interviews and rallies, characterizing illegal immigrants as a threat to the health of the nation. He painted a bleak picture of immigrants “poisoning the blood of our country” and arriving with various diseases and unknown languages, heightening his rhetoric against unchecked immigration.
In his latest interview, Trump reiterated his concerns about the lack of knowledge regarding the identity and background of those crossing the border, emphasizing the presence of unfamiliar languages and the inability to ascertain their origins or intentions.
Trump’s narrative regarding the Southern border often includes sensational claims about the origins of migrants, suggesting they come from “mental institutions” and “insane asylums,” and emphasizing increased migration from South and Central American countries. He has consistently pledged to implement stricter border controls and has even suggested that if he were a leader in South America, he would expedite the transfer of criminals and prisoners to the United States.
Despite his strong rhetoric, Trump has not provided detailed plans on how he would reinforce border security beyond vague promises to collaborate with local law enforcement. Nonetheless, he has continued to criticize President Biden’s approach to border management, using it as a focal point for his political messaging and fundraising efforts.
