Trump Blames Assailants' Genes for Violence Across US

President's remarks follow shootings at Virginia university and Michigan synagogue

Mar. 14, 2026 at 4:18am

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President Donald Trump has blamed attackers' genetics for a series of recent violent incidents across the country, following attacks at a Virginia university and a Michigan synagogue. Trump claimed the attackers are 'sick' or 'bad' and shouldn't have been allowed into the US, suggesting there is something wrong with their genetics.

Why it matters

Trump's comments about genetics and violence raise concerns about the president promoting harmful stereotypes and scapegoating immigrants. His rhetoric comes amid a rise in high-profile attacks, sparking debate about the root causes of violence and the role of immigration policies.

The details

In a Thursday interview, Trump described the attackers as 'sick' and 'really demented,' and blamed US immigration policies under previous presidents for letting them enter the country. He claimed 'they came in a lot through Biden, and they came in through other presidents, frankly, and it's a, it's a disgrace.' The comments followed a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia and an attack at a Michigan synagogue.

  • On Thursday, March 12, 2026, a shooting occurred at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, leaving one person dead and two others injured.
  • Also on Thursday, March 12, 2026, a 41-year-old man rammed an explosive-loaded vehicle into a Detroit-area synagogue, Temple Israel, which became engulfed in flames.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, known for his controversial rhetoric and hardline stance on immigration.

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh

A 36-year-old naturalized US citizen from Sierra Leone, who was the gunman in the Old Dominion University shooting and had previously been convicted of supporting ISIS.

Ayman Mohamad Ghazali

A 41-year-old man who was born in Lebanon and became a US citizen in 2016, and was responsible for the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue in Detroit.

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What they’re saying

“They're sick people, and a lot of them were let in here. They shouldn't have been let in. Others are just bad. They go bad. Something wrong — there's something wrong there. The genetics are not exactly, they're not exactly your genetics.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States (Fox News Radio)

What’s next

The FBI is investigating the Old Dominion University shooting as a terrorist act, and authorities are continuing to investigate the attack on the Temple Israel synagogue.

The takeaway

Trump's comments about genetics and violence raise concerns about the president promoting harmful stereotypes and scapegoating immigrants, at a time when the country is grappling with a rise in high-profile attacks. The rhetoric highlights the ongoing debate about the root causes of violence and the role of immigration policies.