What Did Donald Trump Say About Migrants in the US? ‘Bad Genes’ Comment Explained

As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Donald Trump’s recent remarks about “bad genes” have reignited debates around his views on immigration. His comments, made during an interview with conservative host Hugh Hewitt, have drawn sharp criticism from various political figures.

Here’s an analysis of Trump’s rhetoric, its implications, and how it fits into his broader immigration policy for the upcoming election.

Donald Trump’s “bad genes” comment, made during a recent radio interview with Hugh Hewitt, sparked significant controversy. Trump was discussing immigration, specifically referencing migrants who had committed homicide. He remarked, “I believe this: it’s in their genes. And we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now,” implying that criminal behavior among these individuals is genetically driven. His campaign later clarified that Trump was referring to convicted murderers and not migrants as a whole (via AP News).

This comment is part of a broader pattern in Trump’s rhetoric on immigration. Critics have often condemned his statements for dehumanizing immigrants. In 2023, Trump used similar language. He claimed that immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country.”

This phrase drew sharp rebukes, with critics likening it to the language used by Adolf Hitler. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the statement. She called it “hateful” and said such language “has no place in our country.”

Trump’s remarks play into his longstanding focus on immigration and border security, a cornerstone of his political campaigns. He has consistently called for stricter immigration policies, including large-scale deportations and the completion of the US-Mexico border wall (via NBC News).

While his supporters view his stance as a necessary crackdown on crime, opponents argue that his language promotes racial and ethnic divisions, further inflaming the immigration debate as the 2024 election approaches.

Trump’s “bad genes” comment, though clarified by his campaign, has fueled ongoing debates about his use of inflammatory language when discussing immigration, reflecting the broader polarization surrounding this issue in US politics.