Trump Faces Backlash After Controversial Thanksgiving Remarks

Donald Trump has come under significant criticism following his controversial remarks made on Thanksgiving Day, which a guest on CNN described as “absolutely indefensible.” The comments came in the wake of a tragic shooting incident involving two members of the West Virginia National Guard, who were deployed in Washington, D.C. The shooting, which occurred on November 26, resulted in the death of Sarah Beckstrom, aged 20, and left 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe hospitalized.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced a “permanent pause” on immigration from what he referred to as “Third World Countries.” His statement read, “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries to allow the U.S. system to fully recover, terminate all of the millions of Biden illegal admissions, including those signed by Sleepy Joe Biden’s Autopen.” He further criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, using derogatory language, and made disparaging comments about Representative Ilhan Omar, a Somali immigrant, alleging that she entered the United States illegally.

During a segment on CNN‘s “The Lead” on November 28, former federal prosecutor and Republican strategist Joseph Moreno addressed Trump’s remarks. Guest host Boris Sanchez questioned Moreno about the president’s outburst, asking, “What happened to ‘Happy Thanksgiving’?” Moreno noted the difficulty of supporting a conservative administration when faced with such statements, saying, “It’s not easy.”

Moreno emphasized the need to consider the broader implications of Trump’s rhetoric. He posed the question, “Do you think that we’re better off as a country now than we would be under a Biden or Harris administration? And is it worth putting up with a president that puts out messaging like this?” He acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “I’m not gonna pretend I know the answer to that.”

Moreno’s comments followed a similar reaction from another Republican strategist, Melik Abdul, who expressed disbelief at Trump’s posts, stating, “I was like, ‘Oh, bro, you gotta be kidding me now.'”

Trump’s Thanksgiving Day tirade also included claims about foreign-born U.S. residents, alleging that “most” are on welfare or linked to crime, despite data indicating that crime is primarily committed by U.S. citizens. In a related development, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it would review the Green Cards of individuals from 19 countries deemed to be of concern, including Afghanistan, Iran, Venezuela, and Somalia, among others.

The fallout from Trump’s statements highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration policy and the political landscape in the United States, particularly as the nation approaches the next presidential election cycle.