Trump Doubles Down on Hardline Immigration Promises at Rightwing Rally
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Trump Doubles Down on Hardline Immigration Promises at Rightwing Rally

President-elect Donald Trump used a speech at a rightwing convention in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday to double down on his controversial immigration promises, including a vow to carry out mass deportations on an unprecedented scale. Speaking to a crowd of about 20,000 at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, Trump basked in his November election victory and exaggerated his margin, claiming he won in a “landslide” despite his relatively narrow win.

Trump Claims Overwhelming Mandate for Hardline Agenda

Throughout his remarks, Trump worked to impress upon his loyal base that his victory conferred a sweeping mandate to enact his campaign pledges, no matter how divisive. “Our movement not only won a mandate,” Trump declared. “We’ve built majorities all over the place that will define our country’s future.”

In reality, while Trump won decisively in the Electoral College by a 312 to 226 margin, his edge in the popular vote was razor-thin at about half a percentage point. Nevertheless, he painted his win as dominant, even dwelling on his debunked claims that the 2020 election was “stolen” from him.

Promising the “Largest Deportation Operation in American History”

Trump elicited raucous applause as he outlined plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, vowing to eclipse the expulsions carried out in the 1950s under President Dwight D. Eisenhower – a program that removed nearly 2 million people, many of them U.S. citizens, without due process in what has been widely condemned as a form of ethnic cleansing.

“We will begin the largest deportation operation in American history, larger even than that of President Dwight D. Eisenhower,”

Trump said to cheers from the crowd.

Trump’s pick to lead the deportation effort, Tom Homan, fired up the crowd by mocking critics of the president-elect’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. “Say whatever you want, I don’t give a shit,” Homan said, warning the mayors of “sanctuary cities” who have vowed to resist the mass removals: “If you’re not gonna do it, President Trump and ICE will.”

Trump: “January 20 will truly be Liberation Day”

Underscoring his commitment to his hardline immigration agenda, Trump declared that his January 20 inauguration would be dedicated to launching the deportations. “January 20 will truly be Liberation Day in America,” he proclaimed to applause.

The president-elect’s speech served to galvanize his base and signal his intent to move aggressively on his most controversial immigration promises. By framing his plans as a “liberation,” he painted undocumented immigrants as invaders and cast his policies as an urgent necessity, despite the cruelty of mass expulsions.

Turning Point USA’s Growing Influence

Trump’s appearance underscored the dramatic rise of Turning Point USA, the conservative youth group that hosted the weekend festival. In just five years, the organization has become a juggernaut on the right, growing by over 650% and pulling in $81 million last year.

By mobilizing young supporters in swing states, Turning Point played a key role in delivering Trump’s 2024 victory and Republican control of Congress. The group exemplifies the party’s MAGA wing that rejects the pre-Trump GOP establishment.

As he closed his speech, Trump again highlighted his partnership with Turning Point USA and its leader Charlie Kirk, making clear the organization will remain central to his coalition. With Trump preparing to supercharge his immigration crackdown, Turning Point stands ready to rally the MAGA grassroots behind his agenda, setting up pitched battles in Washington and across the nation.