Trump shocked by calling illegal immigrants 'animals'
The US leader later had to clarify that by using the word "animals" - a word the Mexican government has said is unacceptable - he was referring to criminal gangs.
The US leader later had to clarify that by using the word "animals" - a word the Mexican government has said is unacceptable - he was referring to criminal gangs.
US President Donald Trump in a meeting with California city leaders - Photo: REUTERS
President Donald Trump made the shocking comment during a meeting with California city leaders on May 16.
"There are a lot of people trying to come to the United States border, come into the United States. We've stopped a lot of them. We're going to get them out of this country. You wouldn't believe how bad these people are," Trump said.
There would be nothing to say if the US president stopped there. However, when Mr. Trump said "there are things that are not human. They are animals!", things went further, beyond the US-Mexico border.
"President Trump referred to some immigrants as animals, not people. Maybe he had criminal gangs in mind, I really don't know. However, for the Mexican government, these words are unacceptable," Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray told local television station Televisa on May 17.
"We will officially convey our protest note to the US State Department," Mr. Videgaray emphasized.
When asked about the comments, President Trump appeared surprised and said the phrase was used out of context.
"You know, I'm really referring to the MS-13 gang. I'm talking about them. If you continue to listen to the recordings, you will understand this clearly," the US leader explained to reporters at the White House on May 17 (US time).
As if to make things clearer and take this opportunity to talk about immigration, Mr. Trump continued to have harsh words for MS-13.
"MS-13 are animals. We need strong, tough immigration laws. We're being laughed at because of our immigration laws. I will always call MS-13 and other gang members who come into the United States animals," Trump said bluntly.
MS-13, which began in Los Angeles in the 1980s, has grown into a cross-border criminal organization with its leadership in El Salvador. According to the US Department of Justice, the organization has 30,000 members worldwide and 10,000 in the US.
