Trump Increases Rhetoric, Says Immigrants Are ‘Attacking Villages’

Donald Trump has increased his rhetoric against immigrants by claiming they are attacking “villages and cities” in America. The latest remarks represent an escalation by Trump as he seeks to gain votes by casting immigration as a threat to U.S. citizens. The comments follow his remarks on Haitians and other comments about immigrants at the presidential debate with Kamala Harris. Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, also has increased his rhetoric against Haitians by calling them “illegal aliens” even if they are here legally and accusing them (incorrectly) of increasing the murder rate in Springfield, Ohio.

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On September 21, 2024, at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, Trump focused on what he said were dangers that immigrants posed to Americans. “And you see how bad it’s getting,” he said. “When you look at what’s going on with the migrants attacking villages and cities all throughout the Midwest, in particular right now, but it’s all over.”

Rather than describing people seeking work or refuge in another country, Trump’s language conjures images of immigrant armies traveling across the Midwest attacking Americans in “villages” like in the TV series Game of Thrones. It pairs with other rhetoric in his speech: “A vote for Kamala Harris means 40 or 50 million more illegal aliens will invade across our borders, stealing your money, stealing your jobs, stealing your life.”

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