In a recent interview with tech mogul Elon Musk, former President Donald Trump made a startling suggestion about potentially fleeing to Venezuela if he loses the upcoming election, Daily Mail reported.
During the interview, Trump claimed that Venezuela is "emptying" its prisons and sending criminals to the United States' southern border. He went on to suggest that if the election results are unfavorable to him, he and Musk could meet in Venezuela, describing it as "a far safer place to meet than our country."
Trump asserted that Venezuela's crime rate has decreased by 72 percent, attributing this alleged reduction to the country sending its criminals to the United States. He stated that Venezuela has "gotten rid of about 70 percent of their really bad people" by releasing them from jails and prisons.
The former president further claimed that other countries are following a similar pattern, with some allegedly releasing up to 50 percent of their prison populations into the United States. Trump warned that the situation could worsen, saying, "You haven't seen anything yet because these people have come into our country and they're just getting acclimated." These assertions, however, have been challenged by experts and officials from the countries in question.
Trump referenced recent incidents in New York City to support his claims about the impact of illegal immigration on crime rates. He mentioned a rape that occurred near the Coney Island boardwalk and a stabbing at the Randall's Island mega shelter, both involving suspected migrants.
The former president expressed concern about the state of New York, saying, "New York, and I love that place, and what they're doing to it is horrible." He criticized the focus of the courts on his legal troubles rather than addressing these crime issues.
Bad things happen today, but this is happening every day. We're already overwhelmed. Elon, we're overwhelmed. You had to see the news tonight about New York - New York, and I love that place, and what they're doing to it is horrible. What they're doing to it, and all the courts do is they try and focus on Trump.
In the interview, Trump also took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris's role in addressing immigration issues. He referred to her as the "border czar" and claimed she oversaw a significant increase in unauthorized border crossings.
Trump criticized Harris's recent campaign promise to fight for "strong border security," stating, "She's saying she was strong on the border. 'We're going to be strong.' Well, she doesn't have to say [it]; she could close it up right now." He argued that the administration could take immediate action to address border security concerns.
It's important to note that Harris's actual role in immigration policy was more limited than Trump suggested. She was tasked with addressing the "root causes" of migration in Central American countries rather than directly overseeing border policy.
During the interview, Trump made several claims about the number and origin of migrants entering the United States. He stated that "millions of people [are] coming in a month" and alleged that over 20 million people have entered the country under the current administration.
Official data from Customs and Border Protection shows 205,019 border encounters in June 2024, much lower than Trump's claim of "millions" per month. Trump's allegations about Congolese criminals entering the U.S. are unsupported, with both countries denying any evidence of such activities.
Trump's interview with Elon Musk covered a range of controversial topics related to immigration and crime. He suggested Venezuela as a potential refuge if he loses the election, made claims about crime rates and migrant numbers, and criticized the current administration's border policies. The former president's statements about migrants from various countries, including Venezuela and Congo, have been challenged by officials and experts.
