Trump Continues to Stoke Controversy with Dictator Praise and Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric

Former President Donald Trump, in a rally in New Hampshire, praised authoritarian leaders and expressed anti-immigrant sentiment, sparking backlash from critics who compared his rhetoric to Adolf Hitler. Trump praised leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orban, China's Xi Jinping, and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, while calling President Joe Biden a "threat to democracy." He also quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin to discredit the criminal indictments against him. The Biden campaign responded by accusing Trump of channeling Hitler and other dictators, emphasizing that Americans chose Biden's vision of hope and unity in 2020. Trump's use of the phrase "poisoning the blood" when discussing immigrants has drawn scrutiny, with critics pointing out its association with white supremacists and Hitler. Trump's strict immigration policies during his presidency, including family separations, have been criticized by advocates. As a potential rematch between Biden and Trump looms, Biden has focused on portraying Trump as a danger to democracy, while Trump accuses Biden of ruining the country. Trump's recent speeches have drawn comparisons to fascist dictators, but he dismisses the backlash. Republican candidate Chris Christie criticized Trump's latest speech, including his citation of Putin as a character witness, and accused fellow candidate Nikki Haley of not doing enough to keep Trump out of office. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, when asked about Trump's language, emphasized the need for tough border policies.