Trump denies reading ‘Mein Kampf’ amidst criticism for inflammatory remarks
Former US President Donald Trump, facing scrutiny for his controversial stance on immigration drawing parallels to Nazi ideology, asserts that he has never read Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” Despite disavowing any knowledge of the manifesto, Trump remains unapologetic about his divisive rhetoric, claiming that immigrants are “destroying the blood of our country.”
This statement, made at a recent Iowa rally, has reignited criticism from various quarters, including the White House, which accused him of echoing fascist and white supremacist rhetoric.
The 77-year-old Trump, considered a frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has faced backlash for similar remarks in the past.
President Joe Biden, Trump’s 2020 election opponent, previously accused him of echoing Hitler when describing political opponents as “vermin.” Trump, however, refutes any parallels, emphasizing that he never read ‘Mein Kampf’ and asserting that Hitler used such language “in a much different way.”
In response to the controversy, a Biden campaign account on X (formerly Twitter) shared a graphic comparing Trump’s comments with statements from Hitler, suggesting a deliberate association. This move further intensifies the political tension surrounding Trump’s rhetoric.
The Republican Party finds itself in an uneasy position as heavyweights like Senator Mitch McConnell publicly denounce Trump’s remarks.
Trump’s history of controversial statements on immigration dates back to his 2015 campaign, where he asserted that some Mexican immigrants were “bringing crime” and “rapists.” His infamous promise to build a border wall, despite the construction of hundreds of miles, has not stemmed the surge in migrant crossings.