The Real Risk of Trump’s Dehumanization of Immigrants
“You wouldn’t believe how bad these people are. These aren’t people—these are animals.”
That was President Trump earlier this week, when, according to The New York Times, he “lashed out at undocumented immigrants” during a meeting on so-called sanctuary cities. Democratic politicians seized the opportunity to criticize the president, accusing him of attacking many or most immigrants. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted: “When all of our great-great-grandparents came to America they weren’t ‘animals,’ and these people aren’t either.”
Except, according to the White House, that wasn’t the entire story. “I’m referring, and you know I’m referring, to the MS-13 gangs that are coming in,” Trump said on Thursday.
According to a transcript of the meeting, Trump’s comments came in response to a remark from Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims about the gang. But his phrasing was undoubtedly vague. Facing blowback—including allegations from Trump that they “” misrepresented his Eric Weinstein, the managing director for an investment firm founded by Trump ally Peter Thiel.
