Illegal immigration tops former President Trump’s concerns in acceptance speech

- ADVERTISEMENT -

In a lengthy acceptance speech that touched myriad issues, former President Trump repeatedly went back to the theme of immigration, qualifying that he was against illegal and not legal immigration over the southern border with Mexico.

“We also have an illegal immigration crisis, and it’s taking place right now, as we sit here in this beautiful arena. It’s a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease, and destruction to communities all across our land,” Trump said.

He added later in his speech, “The greatest invasion in history is taking place right here in our country. They are coming in from every corner of the earth, not just from South America, but from Africa, Asia, Middle East. They’re coming from everywhere. They’re coming at levels that we’ve never seen before. It is an invasion indeed, and this administration does absolutely nothing to stop them.”

“I will end the illegal immigration crisis by closing our border and finishing the wall, most of which I’ve already built,” he said.

He praised his pick for running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance who was sitting with his wife Usha, noting, “Great, great student at Yale. His wife was a student at Yale; they met at Yale. These are two smart people. So J.D., you’re going to be doing this for a long time; enjoy the ride,” Trump said.

Speaking to an adoring crowd, Trump recounted his brush with death July 13, when a gunman missed him by “a quarter of an inch,” and called for unity in the country. Soon after however, he went back to his critique of President Biden’s handling of the economy resulting in inflation, and his pet project, the wall on the southern border to prevent what he called an immigration “invasion.”

Near the end of the speech, Trump said “… to keep our family safe, the Republican platform promises to launch the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.”

“I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America, because there is no victory in winning for half of America,” Trump said, later adding, “I am here tonight to lay out a vision for the whole nation. To every citizen, whether you’re a young or old, man or woman, Democrat, Republican or Independent, Black or white, Asian or Hispanic, I extend to you a hand of loyalty and of friendship.”

Calling the election “the most important election in the history of our country” Trump lashed out at “the current administration as being “incompetent”

“I will end the devastating inflation crisis immediately, bring down interest rates and lower the cost of energy. We will drill, baby, drill,” he said and lashed out at what he called green “scams”. He repeatedly emphasized he would cut taxes for all Americans.

On foreign policy he warned of conflicts around the world and raised the specter of World War III.