President Joe Biden faced backlash and made an apology for his use of the term “illegal” in describing the suspect in the murder of Laken Riley during his State of the Union address. The President expressed his regret during an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart in Atlanta, where he was meeting with small business owners and holding a campaign rally.
However, former President Donald Trump seized the opportunity to criticize Biden for apologizing for using the term “illegal” while failing to offer an apology to Riley’s grieving family. Trump, speaking at a rally in Rome, Georgia, took aim at Biden’s immigration policies and promised a large deportation plan if he were to secure the presidency in 2024.
Riley’s tragic murder has become a significant talking point in the ongoing political landscape, with Republicans emphasizing the need for stricter immigration policies in the aftermath of her death. Biden’s attempts to introduce changes to U.S. immigration law were quickly shut down by Republican lawmakers after Trump voiced his opposition, further intensifying the debate over immigration reform.
The term “illegal” has notably become less common, particularly among Democrats who advocate for immigrant rights. Biden’s apology marked a noticeable shift from his previous reluctance to express regret for his choice of words. The use of the phrase “Say her name” during the rally served as a reminder of civil rights activists who use the phrase to highlight cases of police brutality against Black women.
As the 2024 campaign heats up, the issue of immigration continues to be a pivotal point of contention, with Biden and Trump offering starkly different approaches to addressing the situation at the border.
