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Trump Intensifies Rhetoric Against Immigrants and Harris Amid Close Election Race

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Donald Trump ramped up his inflammatory rhetoric against immigrants and Vice President Kamala Harris during a speech in Wisconsin on Saturday. In one of his most heated addresses, the former president focused heavily on undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes, using harsh language to describe them as “monsters” and “vile animals.” Trump’s speech also included escalated personal attacks on Harris, calling her “mentally impaired” and “mentally disabled” after she made her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of her 2024 presidential campaign.

Speaking in the battleground state, Trump was flanked by posters depicting immigrants arrested for violent crimes and banners calling for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants. His remarks centered almost entirely on the topic of immigration, a key issue for many voters in the upcoming November 5 election. Trump blamed Harris and President Joe Biden for a record number of 7 million migrant arrests under their administration, accusing them of letting criminals into the country who, according to him, aim to “rape, pillage, thieve, plunder, and kill.”

Trump acknowledged the dark tone of his speech, saying, “This is a dark speech,” as he emphasized crimes allegedly committed by immigrants, particularly against women. His remarks were delivered in Prairie du Chien, a small Wisconsin town where a Venezuelan immigrant was recently arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and attacking her daughter.

In response to Trump’s speech, Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for Harris, criticized Trump, stating, “He’s got nothing ‘inspiring’ to offer the American people, just darkness.” Harris had addressed immigration issues during her visit to the border the day before, outlining her plans to fix what she called the “broken immigration system” and accusing Trump of stoking fear and division. She also called for tighter asylum restrictions and prioritized stopping fentanyl smuggling into the U.S., a pressing issue for both parties.

Trump’s speech included his usual claim that the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden, was rigged. He also hinted that if he wins reelection, he would pursue legal action against those he blames for his loss.

While immigration has been a focal point of Trump’s campaigns, critics have accused him of promoting racist stereotypes, especially by focusing on crimes committed by Hispanic immigrants. Studies generally show no evidence that immigrants commit crimes at a higher rate than native-born citizens. Despite this, Trump often highlights cases involving young female victims of Hispanic assailants to support his narrative of a violent immigrant threat. His opponents argue that he exploits grieving families to push this divisive agenda, though some of the families affected by violent crimes or opioid deaths have embraced Trump’s attention to the issue.

Several parents of teenagers who lost their lives to fentanyl or violence committed by undocumented immigrants spoke in support of Trump before his remarks, underscoring the emotional weight of the debate on immigration and crime.

Kamala Harris Gains Ground Over Donald Trump in Latest Polls

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is leading Republican rival Donald Trump by 5 percentage points in an NBC News poll released on Sunday, as voters show increasing favorability toward her since she became the Democratic presidential nominee. According to the survey, 48% of 1,000 registered voters now view Harris positively, compared to 32% in July, marking the largest improvement in politician ratings since President George W. Bush’s favorability surged after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

In contrast, 40% of respondents expressed positive views of Trump, up slightly from 38% in July. The NBC poll, conducted from September 13 to 17, carries a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

A separate CBS News poll also shows Harris leading Trump, though by a narrower margin of 4 percentage points (52% to 48%) among likely voters. The CBS poll, conducted from September 18 to 20, has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

These results align with other recent national polls, including one by Reuters/Ipsos, which indicate a close contest as the November 5 election approaches. However, while national polls offer insight into voter sentiment, the state-by-state Electoral College ultimately decides the presidency, with key battleground states likely playing a decisive role.

Trump, 78, is making his third bid for the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020. He continues to falsely claim widespread voter fraud and faces multiple federal and state criminal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Harris, 59, is a former U.S. senator and prosecutor who currently serves as vice president under Biden. If elected, she would become the first female president in the nation’s history.

According to Amy Walter, publisher and editor-in-chief of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, Harris has successfully shifted the narrative of the race. “She’s been able to change this from a race that was a referendum on Joe Biden to a race that is a referendum on Donald Trump,” Walter told NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

The CBS poll also found Harris gaining 2 percentage points from a previous 50-50 tie in August, buoyed by her strong performance in the September 10 debate and improving economic conditions.

Michigan Arab-Americans Voice Opposition to Kamala Harris’ Gaza Stance

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In Dearborn, Michigan, a hub for Arab-Americans and home to the first Arab-majority city in the U.S., growing discontent is mounting toward Vice President Kamala Harris over her stance on the Gaza conflict. At the Sahara Restaurant, where Arabic news channels air footage of the ongoing war, many community members, like business owner Sam Hammoud, have voiced their frustration with the Biden administration’s Middle East policy. Hammoud, like many others, feels a personal connection to the conflict, with many calling for a ceasefire that has yet to come.

The Arab-American community, which played a key role in helping Joe Biden secure Michigan in 2020, has warned the Democratic Party not to take their support for granted. Many of these voters now find themselves uncommitted, torn between their long-standing loyalty to the Democratic Party and their dissatisfaction with Harris’ unwavering support for U.S. weapons policies and ties to Israel.

Prominent figures like Soujoud Hamade, president of the Michigan Chapter of the Arab American Bar Association, have openly switched allegiances, with Hamade now supporting Green Party candidate Jill Stein. A poll from the Council on American-Islamic Relations indicates a significant shift in Muslim voters, with 40% backing Stein, while Harris struggles with just 12% support in Michigan. This community, once a reliable Democratic bloc, is increasingly distancing itself due to Harris’ refusal to condemn policies contributing to violence in Gaza.

Adding to the frustration is Harris’ endorsement from former Vice President Dick Cheney, known for his role in the Iraq War, which left deep scars within the Arab-American community. For many like Dr. Maisa Hider-Beidoun, a lifelong Democrat and pharmacy owner, this endorsement is emblematic of how far the party has shifted. The community feels they are in a “moral dilemma” — balancing their identity as law-abiding, tax-paying Americans with the devastation affecting their families in the Middle East, exacerbated by U.S. foreign policy.

Despite Harris’ slight shift in tone, expressing more empathy than President Biden on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, many Arab-American voters feel that these words are hollow without corresponding actions. The “Uncommitted Movement” within Michigan continues to challenge the Biden-Harris administration, warning that while they oppose Trump, they cannot back a candidate who has contributed to the conflict in Gaza.

Faye Nemer, CEO of the Middle East North American Arab Chamber of Commerce, reflects the community’s anguish. As someone who fled Lebanon due to political violence, she now struggles with the Gaza situation through the lens of her own experiences and the displacement of more than a million people. Many Arab-American voters like Nemer remain undecided or are considering third-party candidates.

Arab-Americans, numbering around 3.5 million in the U.S., represent a critical demographic in swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin. With the 2024 election on the horizon, this community is signaling to Democrats that their votes are no longer guaranteed, and the party must take meaningful steps to address their concerns about U.S. involvement in the Middle East if they hope to retain their support.