Former President Donald J. Trump said in a speech to an evangelical group that he proposed creating sports leagues that pit immigrants against each other.
Appearing at the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington on Saturday, Trump used his usual dehumanizing language to describe immigrants, calling them “tough,” “from prison” and “nasty and nasty.”
Trump later said he had suggested to Dana White, a former ally of the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, that they “start a league for immigrant fighters.”
He continued, referring to the UFC, “And the champions of the UFC league, the best fighters in the world, fighting an immigrant champion? I think the immigrant guy might win! That’s how tough they are.”
Trump said White “didn’t really like the idea,” but added, “It’s not the worst idea I’ve ever had. These are tough people.”
Asked about Trump’s comments at Saturday’s UFC event, White acknowledged that the former president made the suggestion but said, “It was a joke. It was a joke. I saw people making a big fuss about it online. But he certainly said that.”
Biden’s campaign denounced Trump’s comments, calling his remarks at a conference designed as a “Christian values conference” a “disjointed, confused and long-winded speech.”
“Mr. Trump’s incoherent and erratic rant showed voters that, in his own words, he is a threat to our freedoms and too dangerous to ever be allowed anywhere near the White House again,” Biden campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitica said in a statement.
