As the issue of immigration takes center stage in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump has declared his intention to take an unyielding stance on the matter. In a recent interview with Newsmax's Chris Salcedo, Trump outlined his plans for 'mass deportations' should he return to the White House in January 2025.
"Day one. We have no choice. We'll start with the bad ones. Local police have to be given back their authority, and they have to be given back their respect and immunity. We're going to give them immunity," Trump emphasized during The Chris Salcedo Show, according to Mediaite.
Trump attributed the surge in border numbers to President Joe Biden's perceived leniency on immigration, asserting that the trend would continue unless Biden is defeated in November. He stated, "This is not sustainable by any country. We probably have 15 million in actually, which is more than your numbers, and I think that number could reach 20 million people by the time this guy gets out."
The former president went further, expressing a dire view of the nation's future if Biden were to win re-election. "We have to get him out. If we don't get him out, I don't think we're going to have a country left," Trump declared.
In a campaign event ahead of Super Tuesday, Trump escalated his rhetoric, accusing Biden of orchestrating a "conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America" through his immigration policy. He claimed that Biden's conduct on the border amounted to a deliberate attempt to collapse the American system and nullify the will of voters.
Biden's campaign spokesman, Ammar Moussa, dismissed Trump's allegations as baseless, stating, "Once again, Trump is projecting in an attempt to distract the American people."
As part of his campaign stops, Trump also urged former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to step aside for the sake of party unity. Despite accusing Haley of betrayal for running after initially suggesting she wouldn't if he sought re-election, Trump expressed a broader desire for a unified Republican Party, emphasizing the necessity to win in the upcoming election.
Haley, appearing on Fox & Friends, justified her decision to run by citing the significant losses suffered by the Republican Party in recent years. "This is not personal. This is about the fact that we have to win," she emphasized. The dynamics of the immigration debate, coupled with Trump's assertive strategy and accusations against Biden, set the stage for a contentious and high-stakes election season.
