On Sunday, Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, referred to the individuals who stormed the Capitol on January 6th as “warriors.” He went on to claim that these individuals were set up by the police.
During a rally in Las Vegas, the speaker expressed sympathy for the J6 protesters, referring to them as warriors, although they were ultimately victims of the events that occurred. The speaker falsely claimed that the 2020 election was rigged and the protesters were merely exercising their right to protest against it. The speaker also criticized the police for allegedly instigating the events of that day by allowing the protesters to enter the Capitol building. The speaker described this as a horrible and unfair setup.
According to the Justice Department, since January 6, 2021, over 1,424 individuals have been charged by federal prosecutors in connection with the Capitol riot. Out of these, approximately 820 have pleaded guilty to various federal charges. As of earlier this year, over 460 individuals have been incarcerated, as per figures released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in D.C. The DOJ further stated that at least 255 individuals have pleaded guilty to felonies, which include assaults on federal officers, obstructing law enforcement, and seditious conspiracy. Additionally, 565 individuals have pleaded guilty to misdemeanors.
Amid scorching temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in Nevada, Trump delivered his speech on Sunday. Unfortunately, six attendees of the rally required hospitalization, while around two dozen others received medical attention on site due to the extreme heat, as stated by the Clark County Fire Department.
According to the county fire department, the majority of the calls they received were due to heat-related issues. As many as 97 individuals sought refuge in the cooling tents provided by the department. The scorching temperatures, which went well over 100 degrees, prompted the National Weather Service to declare an excessive heat watch.
Before the rally at Sunset Park in Las Vegas, the Trump campaign emphasized their dedication to implementing “comfort measures” to prioritize the safety of rally attendees. Rally goers typically spend hours waiting in line to get into Trump rallies, followed by additional hours waiting for Trump to take the stage. To alleviate any discomfort, the campaign provided water bottles, allowed small umbrellas into the rally, set up tents and misting stations, and deployed “ample” medical staff in case of emergencies.
According to the Phoenix affiliate of ABC News, KNXV, 11 people were sent to the hospital on Thursday during a town hall in Phoenix, Arizona, where the temperature also reached triple digits. Trump’s Las Vegas rally comes after this incident.
During Sunday’s Las Vegas rally, Trump had planned to appeal to Latino voters by highlighting his campaign stance on border security and undocumented immigrants. However, due to technical difficulties with his teleprompter, the former president found it difficult to stick to a single topic.
Despite facing challenges with the teleprompter and unfavorable weather conditions, Trump revealed his proposal to eliminate taxes on tips, a move aimed at winning over voters in a city that heavily depends on the hospitality sector.
“When I’m in office, I have some good news for hotel workers and others who rely on tips – we won’t be taxing the tips people earn,” stated Trump. He recognized that this policy might not be popular but expressed his commitment to implementing it nonetheless.
“We’ll get right to it, first thing in office,” declared Trump. “…And your service is truly exceptional. You have a strong sense of responsibility for the people, and I believe that this recognition is well-deserved, regardless of whether it’s popular or unpopular. I too have taken some unpopular decisions when it was necessary for the benefit of the country. I always strive to do what’s right.”
In a fiery speech, Trump criticized Biden’s handling of immigration policies and the state of the economy under his administration. He specifically targeted Biden’s recent executive action on immigration, characterizing it as “pro invasion, pro child trafficking, pro woman trafficking, pro human trafficking, and pro drug dealers.” Trump’s strong words reflect his belief that the current administration is not doing enough to protect the country from these serious issues.
Last week, Biden implemented an executive action that aims to restrict the number of asylum seekers who can claim asylum outside ports of entry at the southern U.S. border. This new rule will reject migrants who are seeking asylum after seven consecutive days of more than 2,500 encounters at the southern border. Furthermore, asylum claim restrictions will remain in effect for an additional 14 days once daily encounters fall to a seven-day average of 1,500 or less.
In the past year, a bipartisan border bill was negotiated by Senate Democrats and Republicans, but unfortunately, it was killed in the House at the insistence of former President Trump. As this election cycle unfolds, Trump has been ramping up his anti-immigrant rhetoric, making it a central focus of his agenda.
On Sunday, Trump criticized Biden’s executive action, calling it weak, ineffective, and using strong language by saying “it’s bullsh–.”
At the rally, Trump made a lighthearted comment about his focus being on securing votes rather than pleasing his supporters. He emphasized his need for “every vote” and urged his audience not to “go on him.”
“Do you feel that pleasant breeze? It’s important that we all stay comfortable and focused on the task at hand, which is securing every vote we can get,” remarked Trump. “I’m not concerned with personal preferences. Each and every vote is crucial in this election.”