President Donald Trump doubled down on calling MS-13 gang members “animals” Wednesday in New York as he spoke with government officials and families affected by the gang’s violence.
Trump sparked outrage inside the political Left and pundit class after referring to the members of the gang as “animals” last week.
At the New York roundtable, Trump did not shy away from the remarks. “I called them ‘animals’ the other day,” the president said. “And I was met with rebuke. They said, ‘They’re people.’ They’re not people. These are animals.”
The room filled with families brutalized by the gang erupted into applause and cheers.
“And we have to be very, very tough,” Trump said.
In his opening remarks, Trump criticized Democrats for defending MS-13. “Democrats in Congress refuse to close these loopholes. Including the disgraceful practice known as ‘catch and release.'”
He continued, “Democrats have to abandon their resistance to border security so that we can support law enforcement and save innocent lives. I notice recently where Democrats like Nancy Pelosi, as an example, are trying to defend MS-13 gang members.” (RELATED: Trump: Nancy Pelosi, Democrats Support MS-13)
In response to Trump calling the members of the gang “animals” during a roundtable at the White House, Pelosi chose to defend the violent gang members, last week.
“We are all God’s children,” Pelosi said, “There is a spark of divinity among every person on earth, and we all have to recognize that as we respect the dignity and worth of every person.”
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