Trump Blames 'Genetics' of Muslim Immigrants for Crimes

Former president accused of espousing white supremacist ideology in rant against 'sick' Muslim immigrants

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:00am

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Former US President Donald Trump was accused of expressing white supremacist views after he blamed the 'genetics' of Muslim immigrants for crimes committed by some, while calling for their exclusion from the country. Trump made the comments in a radio interview, referencing recent attacks by individuals who happened to be Muslim.

Why it matters

Trump's comments echo long-debunked eugenic ideologies that have historically been used to justify discrimination and exclusion of minority groups. His rhetoric taps into nativist and racist sentiments, raising concerns about the normalization of such views in mainstream political discourse.

The details

In the interview, Trump referred to recent attacks by Muslim individuals, including the stabbing of a cadet at Old Dominion University and the shooting at a Michigan synagogue. He claimed the perpetrators were 'sick' and 'demented people' whose 'genetics are not exactly' the same as the general population, suggesting a genetic basis for their actions.

  • Trump made the comments in a radio interview on March 14, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who has a history of making racist and nativist statements.

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh

A former National Guardsman from Sierra Leone who was stabbed to death by a cadet at Old Dominion University.

Ayman Mohamad Ghazali

An individual who was shot dead by security guards at a synagogue in Michigan after crashing his vehicle into the building.

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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, Former US President (Fox News Radio)

“Trump is an old-school eugenicist nativist. He actually is fine with immigrants as long as they have the right 'genes.'”

— David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute (Common Dreams)

“Imagine being the grandson of immigrants—who dyes his hair, paints his face orange, and wears lifts—lecturing the country about 'genetics.' The irony writes itself.”

— Alex Cole, Journalist (X)

“He's a white supremacist. He doesn't hide it.”

— Mehdi Hasan, Journalist (X)

What’s next

The comments made by Trump are likely to face widespread condemnation and criticism from civil rights groups, immigrant advocates, and political opponents, who may call for him to retract his statements and apologize.

The takeaway

Trump's latest remarks echo his long-standing pattern of making racist and nativist statements, which have become increasingly normalized in mainstream political discourse. This incident highlights the need for vigilance against the normalization of white supremacist ideologies and the importance of challenging such views forcefully in the public sphere.