Former President Donald Trump has doubled-down on his belief that undocumented immigrants are taking “Black jobs,” rephrasing the bit during his Tuesday (Sept. 10) debate against Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency.
Taking place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the debate found Trump making the assertion early on, addressing a question regarding the current American economy with a segue into immigration, where he switched up is “Black jobs” rhetoric with an attempt at something more politically correct.
“And they’re coming in and they’re taking jobs that are occupied right now by African-Americans and Hispanics,” he said early within the debate, causing an immediate reaction on social media.
“Here he goes with the ‘Black jobs’ again,” observed one X user, with another adding of the moment, “So the lesson he learned was to not call them ‘black jobs’ They’re ‘African American jobs’ now.”
“So I guess we’ve graduated from #BlackJobs to jobs that African Americans have — stop it… I’m still focused on my #BlackJob which is voting for @KamalaHarris to take her #Blackjob as President #Debate2024 #WinWithBlackWomen,” offered another, adding a GIF of Former First Lady Michelle Obama mocking the phrase during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
So I guess we've graduated from #BlackJobs to jobs that African Americans have — stop it… I'm still focused on my #BlackJob which is voting for @KamalaHarris to take her #Blackjob as President #Debate2024 #WinWithBlackWomen pic.twitter.com/QSkZKmL6bg
— Jotaka Eaddy (@JotakaEaddy) September 11, 2024
When co-host and World News Tonight anchor David Muir did broach the subject of immigration, Trump continued to explain why he plans to deport 11 million “criminal” and “terrorist” undocumented immigrants who entered the country under President Joe Biden and Harris’ watch.
“They allowed criminals, many many millions of criminals, they allowed terrorists, they allowed common street criminals, they allowed…drug dealers to come into our country, and they’re now in the United States… Did you know crime in Venezuela and crime in countries all over the world is way down? Do you know why? Because they’ve taken their criminals off the street and given them to her to put into our country. This will be one of the greatest mistakes in history.”
“They’re destroying the fabric of our country with what they’ve done.”
Muir then reminded Trump that the FBI reports that crime in the US has gone down — not up — before allowing Harris to respond, who countered by bringing up Trump’s own criminal past and present.
US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a presidential debate with former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 10, 2024. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
“Well, I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault, and his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing,” she shot back. “It’s important that we turn the page on this same old tired rhetoric.”
Other debate topics included women’s reproductive rights, race, the war in Ukraine, healthcare, climate change, and foreign policy.