Former President Donald Trump pledged that there will be "justice" for slain nursing student Laken Riley during a speech where he blamed her killing on President Joe Biden.
While speaking at a rally in Rome, Georgia, on Saturday evening, Trump lashed out at Biden over the death of Riley, whose body was found in a wooded area near the University of Georgia last month. Police have charged Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old migrant from Venezuela, in the 22-year-old nursing student's slaying.
"Laken Riley would be alive today if Joe Biden had not willfully and maliciously eviscerated the borders of the United States and set loose thousands and thousands of dangerous criminals into our country," Trump said. "To her family tonight. I promise you I will demand justice for Laken. Justice for Laken."
Context
Riley's slaying has sparked mounting criticism over Biden's immigration policies as an influx of migrants cross into the country from the southern border. There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the border during the 2023 fiscal year, up from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.
Days after breaking his silence on her death at his State of the Union (SOTU) address, Biden said in an MSNBC interview that aired on Saturday that he regretted referring to the suspect as an "illegal" immigrant.
What We Know
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, criticized Biden over his recent remarks regarding Ibarra while speaking at the campaign stop in Georgia.
"He was an illegal migrant, and he shouldn't have been in our country and he never would have been under the Trump policy," Trump said. "Biden should be apologizing for apologizing to this killer."
The MAGA leader said Biden has "no remorse" regarding Riley's death.
"He's got no empathy, no compassion, and worst of all, he has no intention of stopping the deadly invasion that stole precious Laken's beautiful American life."
Prior to Trump taking the stage, several of Riley's loved ones met with the former president before and the Trump campaign handed out images of the nursing student to the crowd.
"We are profoundly honored to be joined today by the family and loved ones of Laken and some of her great friends. I met them they're so incredible. The whole group is incredible."
Newsweek reached out via email on Saturday to representatives for Trump and Biden for comment.
Views
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and staunch ally of the MAGA leader, took to social media to praise Trump's speech.
"At his rally in Georgia tonight, President Trump called out @joebiden for having no empathy for the victims of illegal aliens," Loomer said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "He also announced that Laken Riley's family and friends were in attendance at his rally, and he said he shares their grief. Trump is an amazing man."
X user End Wokeness shared an image of Trump hugging Riley's family along with a 14-second clip of Biden's MSNBC interview.
"Trump hugs Laken Riley's grieving parents as Biden apologizes to her kiIIer," End Wokeness posted on X. "I have never seen a clearer contrast."
Update 3/9/24, 10:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and new photos.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Maura Zurick is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news ... Read more
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