Trump Visits Border to Address Immigration Amid Democratic Sabotage Claims

Donald Trump is set to visit the shrub-dotted hills of Arizona near the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday to focus on immigration, a key issue throughout his political career since his first presidential campaign nearly a decade ago.

This upcoming visit marks the fourth event in a series planned in battleground states, aiming to draw attention away from the Democratic National Convention where Vice President Kamala Harris is being celebrated for her nomination in Chicago. Ahead of his speech, the Trump campaign has set up a lectern emblazoned with “the southern border” positioned on a dirt road between a border wall and stacked steel beams.

The theme for Trump’s visit is “Make America Safe Again.” During the event, he intends to meet with families whose loved ones have been impacted by incidents involving undocumented immigrants during the Biden administration. Security was notably tightened, with snipers stationed at high vantage points, monitoring the area towards Mexico. The previous day, Trump held his first outdoor rally since an assassination attempt, addressing supporters while shielded by bulletproof glass.

Trump and his Republican allies have been vocal in their criticism of Democrats, particularly targeting Harris for allocating more time discussing Trump at the Democratic National Convention than addressing pressing issues related to immigration and the border. “It’s like they’re having a party. They don’t mention the border. All they do is make up lies about me,” Trump commented during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on Thursday morning.

Some speakers at the convention aimed their remarks directly at Trump, asserting that he exploits the border issue to galvanize his base. They argued that actual leadership is being demonstrated by Democrats, while Trump continues to demonize immigrants.

Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, Texas, made a pointed remark during the convention, stating, “When it comes to the border, hear me when I say, ‘You know nothing, Donald Trump.’” She emphasized that he and other Republicans view the border and immigration as political leverage rather than issues needing genuine solutions.

Alongside Escobar, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut addressed the crowd following a video illustrating Republican reluctance to support a bipartisan border deal earlier in the year. Murphy, who had been at the forefront of negotiations with conservative senators, noted that the proposed legislation could have garnered unanimous backing without Trump’s opposition.

Throughout the week, Trump has been actively campaigning across various battleground states. His travels have taken him to locations in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and North Carolina, with plans to hold additional events in Las Vegas and Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, on Friday. His running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, has previously appeared at a similar location near the border.

As Trump continues to hone in on immigration as a core theme of his campaign, it remains evident that both parties are gearing up for a heated election cycle, with each side seeking to leverage the border issue in their favor.