U.S. President Donald Trump released a sharply worded Thanksgiving message on Thursday, issuing sweeping criticisms of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies and vowing a dramatic overhaul should he return to office.
In the lengthy statement, Trump described the 2021 U.S. airlift from Afghanistan as a “horrendous” event that allowed “hundreds of thousands of people” to enter the country “unvetted and unchecked.” He accused the Biden administration of enabling what he called a national security failure that he pledged would be reversed.
Trump went on to outline a series of hardline immigration proposals, including a “permanent pause” on migration from “Third World Countries,” the removal of individuals he deems “not a net asset” to the United States, the termination of alleged “illegal admissions,” and the retraction of federal benefits for non-citizens. He also suggested denaturalizing migrants he claims “undermine domestic tranquility,” and deporting foreign nationals he described as “public charges,” security risks, or “non-compatible with Western Civilization.”
“These goals will be pursued with the aim of achieving a major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations,” Trump declared, adding that “only reverse migration can fully cure this situation.”
The president further criticized what he called the “foreign population” of the United States, claiming it stands at 53 million and asserting — without providing evidence — that most are dependent on welfare or originate from “failed nations,” prisons, or criminal organizations. He argued that this influx is driving what he described as national “social dysfunction,” citing issues such as crime, school struggles, hospital strain, and housing shortages.
Trump singled out Minnesota, alleging that refugees from Somalia were “taking over” the state and accusing Somali gangs of threatening public order. He also launched personal attacks on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar, making disparaging remarks about their leadership and backgrounds.
Despite the harsh rhetoric, Trump closed by extending Thanksgiving wishes to “Great American Citizens and Patriots,” while excluding those he accused of opposing or harming the country.
