Trump Raises Immigration Crime Amid 'Verbal Abuse' Controversy... Harris Also Calls Back to 'January 6 Incident' in Last-Ditch Effort

[US Election 2024]
Final Push Begins One Week Before Presidential Election

With the U.S. presidential election just a week away, former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, has launched a final all-out effort by pledging a strong response to illegal immigration crime issues. Amid a major variable shaking voter sentiment in the final stretch of the election due to controversial remarks disparaging immigrants and Black people by a Trump campaign official, it is analyzed as a strategic move to reaffirm a tough stance on immigrants and engage in a direct confrontation. Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris plans to focus her efforts during the remaining election period by delivering a victory speech at Ellipse Park near Washington D.C., where Trump gave his 2021 election denial speech.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 29th (local time), former President Trump held a press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, stating, "We will seize the assets of criminal organizations and drug cartels to create a fund to help victims of immigrant crime." Victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants were also present at the event.

Trump mentioned illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and violent crimes committed by some immigrants, emphasizing, "We have to do something," and "We will get it done." He then criticized Vice President Harris, saying, "Kamala's cruel and immoral actions regarding the U.S. border are grounds for disqualification (from running for president)," and "She is unfit for the presidency."

He claimed, "Kamala has destroyed our economy and caused tremendous misfortune," adding, "People on Wall Street say the economy is good because Trump will be elected. That is the only reason the stock market is rising."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The press conference came amid a growing controversy over offensive remarks made at a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York on the 27th. Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who appeared as a guest speaker at the rally, referred to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico as a "floating trash island" and made disparaging comments about Black people and immigrants. As a result, there is a possibility that the votes of the approximately six million Puerto Rican voters who have migrated to the U.S. may shift away from former President Trump. Vice President Harris immediately criticized the remarks, stating, "(Trump) is focused on his grievances, himself, and dividing our country, and is actually obsessed with it," turning the issue into a campaign point.

While distancing themselves from the guest speaker's "trash island" comment, the Trump campaign chose a direct approach by reaffirming their existing stance on illegal immigration issues. This also targets Vice President Harris's weaknesses, who has been criticized for her handling of immigration and border issues. In the afternoon, Trump will move to Pennsylvania to campaign in Allentown, where many Puerto Rican immigrants reside, to manage the fallout from the offensive remarks controversy.

Vice President Harris will deliver a speech at Ellipse Park and launch an all-out campaign effort during the remaining week. Ellipse Park is where former President Trump gave his election denial speech on January 6, 2021. Harris is expected to remind voters that Trump poses a threat to democracy and actively express to Americans why she should be president.