Former President Donald Trump made controversial remarks to reporters on Thursday, describing Democrats as “mentally damaged” while claiming they intend to allocate “$1.5 trillion” to illegal immigrants.
The comments came during an impromptu press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Trump was addressing questions about current immigration policy debates in Congress.
Trump’s Claims About Immigration Spending
“The Democrats want to give $1.5 trillion to illegal immigrants,” Trump told reporters. “These people are mentally damaged. They don’t care about American citizens, they don’t care about our veterans, they don’t care about our children.”
Trump did not provide specific details about which Democratic proposals he was referring to or how he arrived at the $1.5 trillion figure. The claim appears to reference various Democratic-backed immigration reform proposals and social services that could potentially be accessed by undocumented immigrants.
Democratic Response
Democratic leadership quickly pushed back against Trump’s characterization. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement calling Trump’s remarks “divisive and false.”
“These baseless attacks are designed to distract from real policy discussions about comprehensive immigration reform,” Jeffries said. “Democrats are focused on creating a fair and humane immigration system that reflects American values.”
Context on Immigration Spending
Current debates in Congress involve various immigration-related expenditures, including border security funding, processing facilities, legal services for asylum seekers, and integration programs. However, no single proposal approaches the $1.5 trillion figure cited by Trump.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, federal spending on immigration enforcement and related services totaled approximately $25 billion in the most recent fiscal year.
Political Implications
Trump’s comments come as immigration remains a central issue in American politics. The former president has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his political messaging, frequently criticizing Democratic immigration policies.
Political analysts note that Trump’s rhetoric appears aimed at energizing his base and framing Democrats as extreme on immigration issues ahead of upcoming elections.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on Trump’s latest statements.
