Donald Trump doubled down on his hardline immigration stance during his highly anticipated speech in Phoenix Wednesday, bringing the mothers of Americans murdered by illegal immigrants up on stage to help make his case just weeks before the November election.
But it wasn't long before these so-called "Angel Moms" were attacked by journalists who likened them to a "hate group."
Trump surrounded on Phoenix stage by "Angel Moms" who say their kids were murdered by illegal immigrants. This is pretty much a hate rally.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) September 1, 2016
"Trump surrounded on Phoenix stage by 'Angel Moms' who say their kids were murdered by illegal immigrants. This is pretty much a hate rally," Mark MacKinnon, the London-based correspondent for Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, tweeted.
Nearly all those on stage with Trump said their relatives were *shot.* Suggestions of walls & deportations cheered. Gun control unmentioned.
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) September 1, 2016
"Nearly all those on stage with Trump said their relatives were *shot.* Suggestions of walls & deportations cheered. Gun control unmentioned," MacKinnon later wrote.
He then accused Trump of "blaming [an] entire class of people" for issues like unemployment and domestic terrorism.
Re: Trump's speech, hate = blaming entire class of people (in this case illegal immigrants) for everything from lack of jobs to terrorism /2
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon)September 1, 2016
MacKinnon defended his word choice after receiving a number of replies from critics, calling the semantics "standard journo practice."
Not saying Angel Moms lying, just don't know their stories, what's been proven in court. Standard journo practice to attribute statements /1
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) September 1, 2016
Another journalist, Rania Khalek, who on her Twitter profile describes herself as a "journalist with opinions," went a step further.
What the hell is going on? These moms Trump brought on stage are like a hate group.
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) September 1, 2016
"What the hell is going on? These moms Trump brought on stage are like a hate group," Khalek tweeted. In a subsequent post, she called on news networks to "cut the feed" to Trump's speech and later accused the candidate of "encouraging the mentality" that led to the killings.
This is incitement against immigrants. Painting them all as potential murderers. Cut the feed
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) September 1, 2016
Trump is encouraging the mentality that led to that murder. Why does the media keep giving him the platform to promote hate?
— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) September 1, 2016
Watch the "Angel Moms" portion of Trump's speech:
(H/T: Twitchy)
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