Donald Trump says he is all for immigrants – so long as they are from ‘nice’ countries
Donald Trump has said he is in favour of immigrants entering the United States, but only if they come from “nice” countries, like Denmark or Switzerland.
The former president used a speech at a fundraising event in Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday night to highlight the immigration crisis on the US southern border, launching a fresh attack on those entering the country.
According to the New York Times, Mr Trump was discussing migration when he said: “These are people coming in from prisons and jails. They’re coming in from just unbelievable places and countries, countries that are a disaster.”
He then referred to an episode during his presidency when he described Haiti and some nations in Africa as “s--thole countries”, compared with places like Norway.
“And when I said, you know, why can’t we allow people to come in from nice countries, I’m trying to be nice,” added Mr Trump at the fundraiser.
“Nice countries, you know like Denmark, Switzerland? Do we have any people coming in from Denmark? How about Switzerland? How about Norway?”
‘They’ve been shipped in, deposited in our country’
The presumptive Republican nominee for 2024 continued by saying that there were people coming from Yemen “where they’re blowing each other up all over the place”.
At the dinner, from which his campaign claims to have raised $50 million, Mr Trump also attacked the presence of gang members from South America in Florida, who he said “make the Hells Angels look like extremely nice people”.
“They’ve been shipped in, brought in, deposited in our country, and they’re with us tonight,” he said.
“In fact, I don’t think they’re on this island, but I know they’re on that island right there. That’s West Palm,” said Mr Trump, gesturing to West Palm Beach, a city near the event’s island location, which took place at a mansion owned by billionaire financier John Paulson. “Congratulations over there. But they’ll be here. Eventually, they’ll be here.”
In need of campaign cash
Mr Trump spoke for about 45 minutes to 117 guests, who were asked to pledge significant sums towards Mr Trump’s election campaign.
The event was part of his attempt to close the financial gap with Joe Biden’s campaign, whose election funding stood at $192 million at the end of March – double the sum raised by Mr Trump.
Major donors who attended the Florida dinner included New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, energy executive Harold Hamm and sugar mogul Pepe Fanjul Senior. Former first lady Melania Trump was also present along with the host, Mr Paulson.
The evening’s menu included “an endive and frisée salad, filet au poivre, and pavlova with fresh berries for dessert”, the New York Times reported.
Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott and Doug Burgum, three former rivals of Mr Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, were also guest speakers.
Mr Trump is set to hold another fundraiser on Wednesday in Atlanta.
