Trump Blames Recent Attacks on 'Genetics' of Assailants

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Former President Donald Trump blamed the "genetics" of assailants in a string of recent attacks, including an improvised explosive thrown outside Gracie Mansion in New York City and attacks at a university in Virginia and a synagogue in Michigan. Trump claimed the perpetrators were "sick people" who "shouldn't have been let in" to the country, pointing to U.S. immigration policies under previous administrations. Experts have associated similar language around genetics with racial pseudoscience and eugenics, which modern scientists have debunked.

Why it matters

Trump's comments linking genetics to violence and immigration echo past controversial statements that have been criticized as promoting racist ideologies. As a former president, his words carry significant weight and can influence public discourse, even if they are not supported by scientific evidence.

The details

In an interview with Fox News Radio, Trump called the assailants "sick" and "really demented" people, blaming U.S. immigration policy under former presidents for allowing them to enter the country. The president's comments came after a shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia that left one dead and two injured, and a car ramming attack at a synagogue in Michigan that killed the driver. Trump has a history of using language around genetics to praise or criticize others, which experts have associated with racial pseudoscience and eugenics.

• On March 9, 2023, an improvised explosive device was thrown outside Gracie Mansion in New York City.
• On March 10, 2023, a shooting occurred at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, leaving one dead and two injured.
• On March 10, 2023, a car ramming attack took place at a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, killing the driver.

What they’re saying