After a very weird day in Mexico with President Enrique Peña Nieto, then a Twitter shitstorm in which Trump was accused of lying about the content of that meeting, the Republican Presidential candidate gave a long-awaited speech in Arizona that was to put forth his policies on immigration.
This looks like it could be a still from some 90s spoof movie. pic.twitter.com/oiT9Y2KGKz
— BH (@hedofthebloom) September 1, 2016
You can watch the speech in entirety at CSPAN.
Some semblance of an immigration policy was there, to the extent that Trump is capable of conceiving of or describing actual government policy that some version of the American government can carry out. But what will be remembered–and Trump commanded his audience to “remember” the night–is how much this garbage sounded like the same old garbage he's been spewing all along.
In the speech, Trump called for “Ideological certification” of all would-be immigrants, and said we should only let people in who “love us.” This is fine. Not fascist at all.
He then promised to “triple the number of ICE deportation officers” needed to enforce his mass deportation master plan. It is a beautiful plan, and he explained that it would be accompanied by a big, huge, beautiful, “impenetrable,” tall proud wall that sounded very phallic.
Then, he said of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, “Maybe they'll deport her.”
This is fine.
Trump’s new plan to send his political enemies into exile is substantial softening of his earlier plan to have them killed.
— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) September 1, 2016
His on-stage hype men wore “Make Mexico Great Again Also” hats, which reports say Trump came up with himself and made Rudy Giuliani wear on stage.
He opened his speech by detailing the stories of undocumented immigrants who committed violent crimes, telling thousands in the convention centre in downtown Phoenix that he had "met with many of the great parents who lost their children to sanctuary cities and open borders".
Later, he pledged to impose "ideological certification" for immigrants seeking to enter the US, to include questions about so-called honour killings, women, gays and "radical Islam". He said immigration would be suspended from countries like Syria and Libya.
"We have no idea where they're coming from, we have no idea who they are," he said of Syrian refugees.
He raged against low-skilled undocumented immigrants who compete with US citizens for jobs and pledged to "remove criminal aliens immediately".
He also reaffirmed his pledge to build a wall on the country's southern border with Mexico, as supporters chanted "Build a wall".
I swear #DonaldTrump sounds just like the High Chancellor Adam Sutler from V for Vendetta right now. ? pic.twitter.com/F1RyYlWxqI
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) September 1, 2016
Earlier in the day, news pundits described Trump's posture during the Mexico City photo op as “presidential.” Tonight in Arizona, the tone was pure nationalist, fascist, xenophobic red meat. Comparing him to Hitler is too easy — he's more V for Vendetta villain.
— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) September 1, 2016
You can read a detailed analysis of the Trump Arizona speech here. God bless all the fact-checkers and hot-takers tonight. Theirs is a hard job.
Below, some of the voices of reason in my Twitter feed, while I was watching the speech.
Trump in Mexico: Sedative
Trump in Arizona: Meth— Gideon Resnick (@GideonResnick) September 1, 2016
REMEMBER THIS PHRASE TRUMP JUST USED: "Ideological certification."
— Emily Flitter (@FlitterOnFraud) September 1, 2016
— darth™ (@darth) September 1, 2016
To all the pundits who said Trump seemed so presidential 6 hours ago. pic.twitter.com/F3s7MW5cbQ
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) September 1, 2016
Trump just confirmed that all 11 million are subject to immediate deportation if they are picked up for anything.
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) September 1, 2016
Ideological certification ideological certification ideological certification ideological certification ideological certification ideologica
— Emily Flitter (@FlitterOnFraud) September 1, 2016
Trump surrounded on Phoenix stage by "Angel Moms" who say their kids were murdered by illegal immigrants. This is pretty much a hate rally.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) September 1, 2016
This speech proves no softening. So the only possible reason Trump didn't confront Mexico's president about the wall is he chickened out
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) September 1, 2016
Trump will visit Mexico but not a black neighborhood in America
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) August 31, 2016
Trump: "We're going to remember this evening."
— Emily Flitter (@FlitterOnFraud) September 1, 2016
"That's tough stuff, I will tell you." That's how Trump, a man who wants to be president, reacted to the Angel Moms.
— Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) September 1, 2016
Trump wants to select immigrants "based on their likelihood of success."
What if they filed for bankruptcy four times, Mr. Trump?
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) September 1, 2016
This address may not have been designed to attract suburban independent voters in swing states.
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) September 1, 2016
MS13 an example of this. And the US backed & orchestrated military coups in Central America that created perma chaos https://t.co/rOxXLlz6UQ
— Xeni?Jardin (@xeni) September 1, 2016
This Trump use of Angel Moms seems to emphasize that immigration reform is about Americans' mortal safety, not economics or migration policy
— Todd Zwillich (@toddzwillich) September 1, 2016
This "angel mom" stuff is so deeply cynical. And dangerous.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) September 1, 2016
The way they call people "illegals" – so dehumanizing.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) September 1, 2016
“Ideological certification” is for those who hate political correctness because it lacks a heavily-armed bureaucracy https://t.co/5WXLWQQPB4
— Daniel Lin (@DLin71) September 1, 2016
Trump is filibustering America right now
— Michael Rusch (@weeddude) July 22, 2016
I repeat: Donald Trump has insulted people of color from the start, & it's people of color who are going to save America from Donald Trump.
— Gabe Ortíz (@TUSK81) September 1, 2016
Classic bully. Confronted with the humanity of his enemy, he falters. Surrounded by safety of followers, he strikes from afar. #TrumpSpeech
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) September 1, 2016
Well, there goes the black vote, the Latino vote, the college educated vote, the Romney-Bush vote. But he's keeping the Paul LePage vote.
— Stuart Rothenberg (@StuPolitics) September 1, 2016
“Get out and vote on Nov. 8. It’s our last chance.” — Donald Trump
— Matt Viser (@mviser) September 1, 2016
Donald Trump is like a DDOS attack on fact-checkers
— Dan Hon is ⌨️ ing (@hondanhon) July 29, 2016
Trump positioning himself as the “last chance”…that’s the kind of shit that’s going to get people physically hurt when he loses.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) September 1, 2016
I wish I loved anything as much as Trump hates immigrants.
— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) September 1, 2016
It's really hard to see from these seats in the back #TrumpAZ pic.twitter.com/23UAqfcZq2
— JoeMyGod (@JoeMyGod) September 1, 2016
Ideological Certification. Martial Law. Cult of Personality. Ethnic Cleansing. Totalitarianism. Here and now. A clear and present danger.
— David Carroll (@profcarroll) September 1, 2016
In case you can't make out the small type: yes, Giuliani's hat reads "MAKE MEXICO GREAT AGAIN ALSO" pic.twitter.com/lxypF9MVhL
— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@sinderbrand) September 1, 2016
Shouts from the crowd:
"You suck, media!"
"You all are fools!!"
"Liars!"
"Tell the truth!!"
And about a few middle fingers…
— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) September 1, 2016
Trump's immigration policies, then and now: https://t.co/5jkbnUo21R pic.twitter.com/FMhecHwNjG
— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) September 1, 2016
This was fascinating jujitsu-We don't want ill immigration from Mexico, but hey, you don't want it from C America https://t.co/bRvT9itILW
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) September 1, 2016
This isn't about immigration. Trump wants to round up Latinxs. Not scary to you? Imagine if this speech was about a group you're part of.
— Tracey Ross (@traceylross) September 1, 2016
1. Got nothing in face to face meeting.
2. Lied about it.
3. Talked tough back home.
4. Small hands.
You do the math.
— Dave Pell (@davepell) September 1, 2016
Speech in Mexico – Twitter for iPhone.
Speech in Arizona – Twitter for Android.— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) September 1, 2016
“ideological certification” worries me because I always tended to choke on important exams and worry that I'll be deported for thoughtcrime.
— John Schwartz (@jswatz) September 1, 2016
If you wanna know how Trump's speech is landing, David Duke is livetweeting it.
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) September 1, 2016
Fact: "The crime will stop. It will be over."
Check: First-generation immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans.— Kate Linthicum (@katelinthicum) September 1, 2016
This is easily one of the most grotesque speeches he's given.
— Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) September 1, 2016
You will be shocked to know that mandatory detention/deportation of all border crossers violates the UN Convention on Refugees.
— Dara Lind (@DLind) September 1, 2016
White supremacy https://t.co/77OXhk0FZM
— Smooth Kobra (@smoothkobra) September 1, 2016
Trump’s brand of virulent, overt, aggressive racism doesn’t usually make its way to the national stage.
— (((Touré))) (@Toure) September 1, 2016
This is how I imagine highly coked-up TV producers in the 1970s talked all the time.
— Maureen Johnson (@maureenjohnson) September 1, 2016
The facts:
—Illegal immigration fell from '07 to 2014
—Border patrol doubled form '04 to 2012
—Border crossings neared historic lows in '15— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) August 24, 2016
A wall… that will never exist… financed by a country… that will never pay for it… pic.twitter.com/E2hwj0ZnSY
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) September 1, 2016
This is is not a general election speech. It’s pure id to id communication.
— jelani cobb (@jelani9) September 1, 2016
I've had acid trips that lasted longer than these trump pivots
— Xeni?Jardin (@xeni) September 1, 2016
"Believe me" is one of Trump's constant verbal tics. Experience shows it's usually said by someone who's dissembling.
— Clyde Haberman (@ClydeHaberman) September 1, 2016
Reality check: This is what deporting 11 million people would actually look like. https://t.co/KfFEShVsdA pic.twitter.com/c4p4cR48lC
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) August 24, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump Just give me a hint on how we get rid of you. Does it involve solving a riddle
— Bridger Winegar (@bridger_w) September 1, 2016
Classic bully: Trump was too weak and cowardly to deliver say any of this to the Mexican president. Real tough behind his podium, though.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) September 1, 2016