Speaking during a campaign rally in Rome, Georgia, former President Donald Trump noted that he had spoken with the parents of Laken Riley backstage. Ms. Riley was a 22-year-old nursing student murdered on UGA’s Athens campus, with the suspect in her murder case being a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela.
Speaking to the crowd in Rome, Trump was very complimentary of Laken, saying, “I met her beautiful mother and family backstage. They said she was like the best. She was always the best to us. They admit that she was the best, and she was the first in her class. She was going to be the best nurse. She was the best nursing student. She was always the best. She was the brightest light in every room, they told me.”
Continuing after speaking about how wonderful Laken was, former President Trump reminded everyone how important she was to her family, saying, “She was the whole world to her parents and to her sister and just to the whole family.”
Trump then ripped Biden for what he characterized as open border policies, saying, “Biden has implemented a formal policy that illegal aliens who intrude into the United States are granted immunity from deportation. Thus, when this monster showed up at our border, he was set free immediately under the program. That crooked Joe created it.”
The illegal immigrant accused of killing Laken crossed over into the United States during Biden’s presidency and was released into the interior of the country by DHS despite having been arrested when attempting to cross illegally. He was also arrested in New York City in the fall of 2023, though because NYC is a sanctuary city, he was not turned over to ICE to be deported and was instead released.
And, speaking more about Laken’s family members and how wonderful they are, Trump said, “They’re so incredible. The hearts of hundreds of thousands and indeed millions and millions of Americans and people worldwide, they’re shattered alongside of your beautiful hearts. We share your grief. We share your grief. Thank you, darling. Thank you. Thank you very much. We appreciate it.”
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Trump also blasted Biden for apologizing for calling Laken’s suspected killer an illegal, saying, “Joe Biden went on television and apologized for calling Laken’s murderer an illegal.” He added, “Biden should be apologizing for apologizing to this killer.”
Taking a different tack, Trump said, “I say he was an illegal alien. He was an illegal immigrant. He was an illegal migrant.” Trump then accused Biden of having “no remorse.” He added, “He’s got no regret, he’s got no empathy, no compassion, and worst of all, he has no intention of stopping the deadly invasion that stole precious Laken’s beautiful American life.”
Biden, for his part, recently said, “Look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about in the border was his, the way he talks about vermin, the way he talks about these people polluting the blood. I talked about what I’m not going to do. What I won’t do. I’m not going to treat any, any, any of these people with disrespect. Look, they built the country.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video