If you thought Trump’s rhetoric around the group of migrants traveling to the United States to file for asylum couldn’t get any worse, you were proven wrong when the president made a terrifying statement regarding his plan to send more troops to the U.S./Mexico border than are currently serving in Afghanistan.
Asked if he envisions the US military firing at migrants at the border, President Trump says: "I hope not."
"I will tell you this, anybody throwing stones, rocks … we will consider that a firearm, because there's not much difference when you get hit in the face with a rock." pic.twitter.com/mnsc56EFT7
— NBC News (@NBCNews) November 1, 2018
Until this statement, it was assumed that even sending the military wouldn’t include any use of firepower against these unarmed people fleeing violence and starvation. Trump just gave the military permission to fire on those people if they threw rocks.
The “rocks” reference was to a clash between migrants and Mexican police that occurred on October 29. Migrants threw rocks and other items at police after trying to get around them to continue their journey. During the incident, one person was killed. He was one of the migrants.
‘Some migrants threw rocks and glass bottles at police and officers responded by firing rubber bullets, according to migrants and journalists who were at the scene. A Mexican police helicopter circled overhead, they said, dropping tear gas onto the crowd…A 26-year-old name Henry Diaz was hit in the head in the scuffle. Rescuers took him to a hospital, where he died.’
TRUMP: "They want to throw rocks at our military,….our military fights back" says he told the military to consider any thrown rocks the same as a rifle
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) November 1, 2018
In answer to a question about use of firearms by the military against the migrant group, Trump responded:
‘I hope there won’t be that, but I will tell you this—anybody throwing rocks… we will consider that a firearm, because there’s not much difference.’
Trump’s insistence that there’s no difference in being hit by a rock and a bullet is clearly a false equivalency. After all, firing a military grade firearm into a group of unarmed people would not result in one death, and that on the side of the ones doing the firing.
This was the headline moment from Trump's appearance — the commander-in-chief saying he's told the military to shoot to kill any rock-throwers at the border. (Yes, he's doing toughness posturing, but still.) https://t.co/iQPtmbSxFr
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 1, 2018
His rhetoric about this particular group of people, which he’s seized on ahead of the midterms, has already led to the deaths of 11 Jewish Americans. Now, the current commander-in-chief ordered the military to open fire against those coming to our country to follow the legal process of seeking asylum.
‘They’re throwing rocks viciously and violently, we’re not going to put up with that. They want to throw rocks at our military, our military fights back. Consider it a rifle.’
Illegal immigration affects the lives of all Americans. Illegal Immigration hurts American workers, burdens American taxpayers, undermines public safety, and places enormous strain on local schools, hospitals and communities…https://t.co/eN1IqPNBJY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2018
