Trump on Some Undocumented Immigrants: 'Animals'

"These aren't people. These are animals." It was a reference to some undocumented immigrants made Wednesday by President Trump during an hour-long meeting at the White House that USA Today characterized as studded with "extraordinarily harsh rhetoric" from the president. He was meeting with California leaders who are also against the state's so-called "sanctuary city" immigration policies, and that statement came after one of them made a reference to suspected gang members. The AP framed Trump's comments as his "latest push to embolden his base leading into the midterm elections." Trump described those present as having "bravely resisted California's deadly and unconstitutional sanctuary state laws," which are providing "safe harbor to some of the most vicious and violent offenders on Earth."

The comments garnered a response from Gov. Jerry Brown, who tweeted Trump "is lying on immigration, lying about crime and lying about the laws of CA." USA Today notes Trump also called upon Jeff Sessions to investigate Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf for "obstruction of justice" over her February move and swung at Mexico for what he described as its inaction at stopping the entry of people into the US. "Mexico does nothing for us, they do nothing for us. Mexico talks, but they do nothing for us, especially at the border." (The Justice Department has sued California over laws that provide protection to undocumented immigrants.)