Former President Donald Trump has made headlines yet again for his incendiary remarks during a recent private fundraising event. Audio from the dinner, which was held on August 10, 2024, at the luxurious home of investors John and Amy Phelan in Aspen, Colorado, surfaced, giving insight not only to Trump's views on immigration but also to his decidedly callous humor about tragedy. Attendees at the event were required to donate anywhere from $25,000 to $500,000 to participate, collecting notable figures from the conservative sphere, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott and casino mogul Steve Wynn.
During this 12-minute speech, Trump largely focused on border security, echoing xenophobic rhetoric familiar to those who attended his rallies. He characterized the “radical leftwing lunatics” as agents intent on letting people out of prisons and asylums flood the U.S. with criminals, claiming this group was harboring “a record number of terrorists.” His statements were not only inflammatory but also contradicted by evidence, as studies have shown immigrants, including those who are undocumented, tend to commit crime at lower rates than native-born Americans.
The ex-president also dragged his feet to address the sobering aftermath of his rally earlier this summer, where Core Comperatore, one of his supporters, was shot and killed during what was reported as an assassination attempt. Trump recounted how his golf club members from Mar-a-Lago raised over $6 million for the victims of the shooting, adding, “That’s a lot of money,” seemingly undeterred by the weight of the tragedy he was referencing.
Then came the moment where Trump made his attempt at humor, which fell flat. He recalled handing the check to Comperatore’s widow, Helen, after the fundraising effort. “This is so nice, and I appreciate it, but I’d much rather have my husband,” she told him, to which Trump responded, “I know at least four couples here wouldn’t say the same.” While attempting to provoke laughter, Trump chose to poke fun at those grieving, reflecting insensitivity toward the loss.
But Trump didn’t stop at humor; he ventured even more deeply down the rabbit hole by recounting what he claimed was his experience with criminals entering the U.S. from countries across Africa and Asia. He offered up the dubious example of ex-convicts from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, supposedly saying, “We said, ‘Where do you come from?’ They said, ‘Prison.’ ‘What did you do?’ ‘None of your f—king business what we did.’ You know why? Because they’re murderers.” Such anecdotes were meshed with claims of tougher immigration policies being necessary, under the belief they protect Americans from these alleged threats.
Further adding to his divisive rhetoric, Trump invoked fear surrounding Kamala Harris, characterizing her as the harbinger of disaster if she won the presidency. He forecast dire consequences if she presided over the White House, noting, “if we don’t win, this country’s going to hell.”
His comments reached new heights of absurdity when he predicted, “This could be the last election we ever have,” urging his wealthy supporters to recognize the stakes of the upcoming election, emphasizing the extreme consequences of Harris's victory. The implication was clear: for Trump, the election was not just about political posturing but about survival.
It’s not the first time Trump has faced backlash for his remarks around immigration. Throughout his political life, he has been tied to incendiary phrases and statements, often aimed at immigrants and marginalized communities, which critics claim incites violence and fuels anti-immigrant sentiment.
Trump’s timing of this fundraiser couldn’t have been more dire—just before his first debate against Harris, with polls already showing her as the perceived victor of the face-off before even stepping on stage. Ironically, the remarks came as he once again attempted to paint Harris as incompetent and dangerous, reitering past campaign sentiments about her being interested largely in “defunding the police,” regardless of the shift she had undergone from those initial statements.
This fundraiser seems to reveal more than just Trump’s disdain for Harris or his far-flung immigrant narratives; it exposes the lengths to which he will go to rally his base. His remarks, steeped in resistance to Democrats and scapegoat rhetoric around immigrants, are reflective of the strategy he has employed for years: capitalize on fears and prejudices to solidify support from his base, especially now as he vies for reelection.
Ironically, Trump's concerns about immigrant violence and crime are unfounded and well-documented to be false narratives heavily critiqued by experts and research studies. Yet, they thrive under the facade of being perceived as ‘truths’ among his supporters. This perennial witness to Trump’s rallies and speeches suggests not just what he believes the public wants to hear, but what he believes he needs to say to maintain his platform.
Even as personal tragedy loomed large over the discussion of fundraising, Trump's insistence on promoting his narrative—no matter how far from reality—demonstrates both the disconnect and the approach he takes to remain at the forefront of his supporter’s minds. He adeptly mixes vague threats, humor, and familiar tropes to rouse reactions, proving he continues to be the master of his brand of confrontational and polarizing politics.
With the upcoming election month only intensifying the scrutiny surrounding his every word and action, particularly as legal troubles linger just behind the curtain, many are left wondering how effective this tactic will be moving forward. Will his unfounded claims be enough to sway public opinion, or are there signs of weariness among the voter base?
The events at this fundraiser are more than just fodder for commentary; they aren't just part of the larger Trump saga but instead provide a glimpse of how he plans to navigate the upcoming election, culling sentiments of anger and division as he strives to steer conversation away from his missteps and inconsistencies.
Through this combination of fear, humor, and rhetoric, Trump is painting the picture he wants for the upcoming race. Yet, whether this grim narrative will resonate with voters who might have tired of his antics is another question altogether. Time will tell how Trump's embattled followings will respond to his calls for more dollars, more rallies, and more extreme rhetoric as 2024 looms on the horizon.
