Former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the illegal immigration crisis during a town hall event with undecided Hispanic voters. Trump argued that Hispanic voters are “most against” illegal migration and emphasized the need for legal immigration processes. He raised concerns about the administration releasing individuals who may be criminals, drug dealers, or terrorists. The event, hosted by Univison, focused on immigration, the economy, and Trump’s defense of his previous administration.
Trump’s appearance on Univision was aimed at earning support from Hispanic voters, with recent polling showing that he is gaining ground with this voting bloc. During the town hall, a Republican voter from Arizona questioned Trump about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, mentioning reports of them eating cats and dogs. Trump promised to visit Springfield and provide a full report. Polling data shows that Vice President Kamala Harris currently leads Trump among self-identified Hispanic voters in key battleground states like Arizona and Nevada, but Trump has made gains with younger male Hispanic voters compared to four years ago.
Trump addressed various questions from audience members, including one about national debt from a full-time student in Florida. He emphasized the importance of economic growth in addressing the debt and mentioned waste, fraud, and abuse as contributing factors. Trump also highlighted his plan to appoint tech billionaire Elon Musk as the “secretary of cost-cutting” if he is re-elected. The town hall also featured a question from a stay-at-home mom in North Carolina about Melania Trump’s pro-choice abortion stance in her memoir. Trump expressed support for his wife’s position and discussed his efforts to return abortion decisions to the states for resolution.
Polling data shows that Trump is outperforming his 2020 support among Hispanic voters, particularly on the issue of immigration. Recent polls in Florida indicate that Trump leads Harris among Hispanic voters in the state. Trump reiterated his commitment to legal immigration processes and emphasized the need for border security. The town hall event, originally scheduled for October 8, was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, but eventually took place with a focus on issues important to Hispanic voters, including immigration, the economy, and abortion rights.
Overall, Trump used the town hall event to make his case to Hispanic voters, highlighting his positions on key issues like immigration, national debt, and abortion. He emphasized the importance of legal immigration processes and criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the border crisis. Polling data suggests that Trump is making gains with Hispanic voters, particularly younger male voters. The event provided an opportunity for Trump to engage directly with voters on important issues and to present his vision for the country if he were to be re-elected as president in 2024.
