Trump prompted international outcry with his remark. He had also asked why any immigrants should be allowed from such countries, instead of “more people from Norway.”
The Washington Post – Trump attacks protections for immigrants from ‘shithole’ countries
AP News – Trump: Why allow immigrants from ‘shithole countries’?
Reuters – ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ – Norwegians reject Trump’s immigration offer
During a rally, when Trump invoked Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the crowd began chanting “send her back.” Omar, born in Somalia, America, successfully completed the legal process to become a US citizen where she had lived for two decades.
Trump claimed that he started speaking immediately to cut off the crowd, but video of the event shows that he waited for the chant to end on its own.
Trump had previously said that four Congresswomen of color who opposed him should “go back” from where they came. Of the four, only Ilhan-Omar isn’t US-born.
The New York Times – Trump Disavows ‘Send Her Back’ Chant After Pressure From G.O.P.
USA Today – Outrage, expressions of support for Rep. Ilhan Omar after ‘send her back’ chant at Trump rally
The Guardian – Donald Trump said he tried to stop the ‘send her back’ chants … but did he?
Trump made these claims, stating that 15,000 Haitians who entered the US all had AIDS and that 40,000 Nigerians in the US would never “go back to their huts” in Africa in a June 2017 meeting.
Trump remarked to a group of African-American leaders during Black History month,
Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who’s done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more, I notice.
Trump’s phrasing implies he thought Frederick Douglass was still alive. Douglass was an escaped slave and national leader of the abolitionist movement in the 19th century.
Later that month, Trump later signed legislation to honor the 200th anniversary of Douglass’ birth.
The Washington Post – Trump implied Frederick Douglass was alive. The abolitionist’s family offered a ‘history lesson.’
The Atlantic – Donald Trump’s Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Politico – Trump signs law to honor 200th anniversary of Frederick Douglass’ birth
The “thing” Trump appeared to be referring to was the abolition of slavery. Trump made the remarks during a call in to Fox and Friends. Trump has also compared himself to Lincoln.
It was just one remark in a meandering half-hour call to Fox & Friends.
The remark came during a G7 meeting in closed-door discussions between heads of state. The Wall Street Journal, which broke the story, cited a senior EU official.
25 million people represents a fifth of the Mexican population, and about two and a half times the estimated number of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
The Wall Street Journal – Behind the Scenes at G-7 Meetings, Allies Dismayed by Trump’s Jabs
Pew Research Center – 5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S.
Trump made the claim that because Judge Gonzalo Curiel is Mexican-American, he was unfair in his past rulings against Trump University, and had a conflict of interest in his upcoming decision on the legality of the border wall. The Indiana-born judge ultimately ruled in favor of the wall’s legality.
The Wall Street Journal – Trump Says Judge’s Mexican Heritage Presents ‘Absolute Conflict’
The Hill – Mexican-American judge who Trump attacked rules in favor of border wall
Politifact – Donald Trump’s racial comments about Hispanic judge in Trump University case
In a February 2016 interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Trump avoided condemning or disavowing the endorsement of white supremacist and former KKK grandwizard David Duke, saying he didn’t know who Duke was.
In years prior, Trump had commented on and repeatedly attacked Duke and his platform. In 2000, he cited Duke’s participation in the Reform Party as a reason he no longer wanted the party’s nomination, saying, “The Reform Party now includes a Klansman, Mr. Duke, a neo-Nazi, Mr. Buchanan, and a communist, Ms. Fulani. This is not company I wish to keep,” ending his presidential campaign for that election year.
After the State of the Union interview, Trump maintained that he always had and would continue to disavow Duke’s support.
Time – Donald Trump Refuses to Condemn KKK, Disavow David Duke Endorsement
NPR – Trump Fails To Condemn KKK On Television, Turns To Twitter To Clarify
Trump long perpetuated the debunked conspiracy, which held that Obama was born in Kenya and ineligible to be President, despite a lack of any evidence. He claimed that he had sent investigators to Hawaii who “cannot believe what they’re finding,” though nothing ever came of it.
In 2011, President Obama released his long-form birth certificate and made fun of Trump’s claims when he attended the 2011 Correspondent’s Dinner.
Even after Trump announced his candidacy in 2016, he defended his role in spreading the conspiracy theory against Obama, saying it “resonated with a lot of people,” and that he “doesn’t know, nobody knows” if the long-form birth certificate released was real.
When Trump finally acknowledged that Obama was born in the United States during his 2016 Presidential campaign, he blamed the conspiracy on opponent Hillary Clinton.
The New York Times – Donald Trump Clung to ‘Birther’ Lie for Years, and Still Isn’t Apologetic
ABC News – The Last Time Donald Trump Talked About ‘Birtherism’
BBC News – Donald Trump admits President Obama was born in US
Gold Star families are those that lost an immediately family member in the line of military duty. When one such family spoke at the Democratic National Convention, Trump suggested that the fallen soldier’s mother was not allowed to speak freely by her husband because they are Muslim.
Trump also suggested that Clinton’s campaign was supplying the family with talking points, saying,” “Who wrote that? Did Hillary’s scriptwriters write it?”
In response, 17 Gold Star families signed an open letter to Trump, which explained, “When you question a mother’s pain, by implying that her religion, not her grief, kept her from addressing an arena of people, you are attacking us. When you say your job building buildings is akin to our sacrifice, you are attacking our sacrifice.”
Trump explained in his defense that, “I think I’ve made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard.”
Trump has had a checkered past on dealing with service members and their families. Trump later also brought a pregnant Gold Star widow to tears when he forgot the name of her husband. In another instance, Trump sent a $25,000 personal check to a grieving family, though it was after news reports noted its delay from when it was originally promised. He also infamously said John McCain was not a war hero because he was captured, and referred to dodging STDs as his own “personal Vietnam,” while having dodged the draft five times.
USO – What is a Gold Star Family?
The Washington Post – Trump stirs outrage after he lashes out at the Muslim parents of a dead U.S. soldier
The New York Times – Donald Trump Criticizes Muslim Family of Slain U.S. Soldier, Drawing Ire
ABC News – Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: ‘I’ve Made a Lot of Sacrifices’
Wikipedia – Khizr and Ghazala Khan
