‘Only a Hispanic could survive that fall,’ Trump tells White House crowd
Updated . First published at
Donald Trump has made a bizarre remark about Hispanic people surviving large falls during an event at the White House.
The president was talking about his ballroom project at the White House event to make Hispanic Heritage Month.
Donald Trump told a crowd “only a Hispanic could survive that fall” in a bizarre White House speech. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
He was talking at length about his East Wing renovations.
"You literally will be the first group ever to enter," he told the crowd.
“Don’t fall over the edge because it’s a long way down. And only a Hispanic could survive that fall. So I’m not too worried.”
The crowd cheered at his remarks.
Trump made the remarks during a nearly hour-long speech which focused heavily on his ballroom renovations and only mentioned the official reason for the event 22 minutes in.
He told the crowd that his construction projects "relaxes me".
He also appeared to praise ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"If I ran Venezuela, if I ran any country, I would do exactly the same thing that Maduro did," Trump said.
"They emptied their prisons. They emptied their mental institutions. And they just sent them into our country. It was crazy."
Donald Trump’s support among Hispanic voters is plummeting. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
Hispanic Americans are set to be a key voter demographic in the coming midterm elections.
About 20 per cent of the country is Hispanic or Latino, with nearly four in five adults eligible to vote.
That demographic swung heavily towards Trump in the 2024 election, but polling shows a major turn back to Democrats.
This will be crucial in states like Texas and Florida, two states that have unexpectedly close races in the November election.
Immigration has shown itself to be a flashpoint among Hispanic voters.
Voters, particularly in regions close to the Mexican border, broadly supported tighter regulations of border crossings.
But the Trump administration's empowering of ICE has been deeply unpopular, especially among Hispanic Americans who have felt targeted by the agency.
"Frankly, it’s the hardest job I’ve had," Trump said about his immigration crackdown.
"They’ll say you’re too tough or you’re too soft. Get tougher, get softer. No matter what you do, it’s always tough. But we have, we’ve been very strong."
In an apparent effort to win back support among the demographic, Trump praised them as a broader group.
The Trump administration’s actions on immigration have angered many in the Hispanic community. (AP Photo/Joel Angel Juarez)
"You’re not supposed to generalise, but I do," the president said.
"You’re hardworking people, you’re smart as hell, you’re energetic — sometimes too energetic, I might add."
He then invoked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, apparently referencing his marriage to a Hispanic woman.
"Sean knows that," Trump said.
"A little bit too energetic."
Election Day is November 3.
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