President Biden Regrets Using Term ‘Illegal’ in State of the Union Address, Faces Backlash
In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden expressed regret for using the term “illegal” during his State of the Union address. The comment was made in reference to the suspected killer of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student whose tragic murder has become a rallying cry for Republicans and a focal point of the 2024 campaign.
Biden’s use of the term “illegal” to describe individuals who arrived or are living in the U.S. illegally drew frustration from some members of his own party. In an interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, the president acknowledged his mistake and stated, “I shouldn’t have used illegal, it’s undocumented.”
However, this apology only seemed to fuel the fire as Donald Trump, Biden’s all-but-certain 2024 GOP rival, seized the opportunity to criticize the president’s immigration policies. Speaking at a rally in Rome, Georgia, where Riley’s family and friends were in attendance, Trump condemned Biden for apologizing to the murderer rather than to the victim’s family. The former president also accused Biden of willfully undermining the borders of the United States and allowing dangerous criminals into the country.
Riley’s parents, sister, and friends were invited to join Trump on stage at the rally. They were greeted with a standing ovation and large signs featuring Riley’s photograph and the words “SAY HER NAME!” and “REMEMBER OUR ANGELS.” Trump expressed his condolences to the grieving family and used the opportunity to further criticize Biden’s handling of immigration issues.
During his lengthy speech, Trump declared that Biden’s actions on the border were a “crime against humanity” and claimed that Riley would still be alive if it weren’t for the current administration’s policies. The former president emphasized his commitment to securing the borders and promised to carry out the largest deportation in the nation’s history if elected. He contrasted his strong rhetoric with Biden’s perceived lack of remorse and accused the president of allowing a “deadly invasion” to take place.
Earlier this year, Biden faced opposition from activists within his own party when he agreed to make changes to U.S. immigration law that would have limited migration. However, the bipartisan compromise quickly fell apart when Republican lawmakers opposed the deal after Trump voiced his objections. Since then, Biden has been considering executive action to address the issue but has expressed frustration with legal constraints and called on Congress to take action.
The use of the term “illegal” itself has become a contentious issue, particularly among Democrats who have embraced immigrant rights’ issues. Biden’s slip-up during his State of the Union address only added fuel to the fire, sparking further criticism from his opponents.
In conclusion, President Biden’s regret over using the term “illegal” in his State of the Union address has become a focal point of the 2024 campaign. The tragic murder of Laken Riley has become a rallying cry for Republicans who are critical of Biden’s immigration policies. As the debate over immigration continues, it remains to be seen how this issue will impact the upcoming election and shape the future of immigration reform in the United States.
