Duel campaign appearance Saturday’s high-profile murder in Georgia and the border crisis that became a symbol of the border crisis sharply contrasts between President Joe Biden and his likely Republican opponent, former President Donald Trump. brought about.
The death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student who was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant on the University of Georgia campus, has become a rallying cry for Republicans, who say the tragedy encompasses the Biden administration’s response to the border crisis. claims. . Biden mispronounced her name during Thursday’s State of the Union address, but Trump met with her family on Saturday.
“I met her beautiful mother and family backstage,” President Trump told rallygoers in Rome, Georgia, on Saturday. “They said she was like the best. For us she was always the best. They admit she was the best, and she was first in class. She was the best She was the best nursing student ever.”She was always the best.” She was the brightest light in any room, they told me. ”
He added: “She meant the world to my parents, sister and my entire family.”
Trump meets Laken Riley backstage before Georgia rally: ‘I’m very honored’
Supporters of former president and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump held up a photo of Laken Riley before speaking at a “Get Out the Vote” rally in Rome, Georgia, on Saturday. (Ilya Neuverage/AFP via Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump spoke at a campaign event in Rome, Georgia, on Saturday. (Ilya Neuverage/AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump said he was “very honored” to have Riley’s family and friends at the rally.
“They’re just incredible,” he continued. “The hearts of hundreds of thousands, and indeed millions, of Americans and people around the world are broken along with your beautiful heart. We share your grief. I share your sadness. Thank you, darling, thank you. Thank you so much.” Thank you very much. ”
Laken Riley’s mother slams Biden as pathetic for getting daughter’s name wrong during Sotu
In a photo that went viral, the former president can be seen hugging Riley’s parents before the rally.
Riley’s stepfather, John Phillips, was seen at the rally wearing a bright red hat that read “Make America Great Again.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) speaks to supporters of former President Trump while holding a photo of Laken Riley before speaking at a “Vote Out” rally in Rome, Ga., on Saturday. . (Ilya Neuverage/AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Biden, who also held a campaign event on Saturday, told MSNBC in a prerecorded interview that he regrets using the word “illegal” in reference to Riley’s alleged killer in his State of the Union address. The term “illegal immigrant” infuriates liberals, who prefer to refer to people who enter the country illegally as “illegal aliens.”
“They shouldn’t have used something that was illegal. It’s undocumented,” he told MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart.
”“When I talked about the differences between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about at the border was him — the way he talks about pests, the way he talks about people contaminating blood,” Biden said. Told. What not to do, what not to do. I don’t mean to treat any of these people with disrespect. You see, they built the country. Our economy is growing because we need to control borders and more orderly flows. But I don’t agree with him at all. ”
Asked if he regretted his choice of words, Biden said, “Yes.”
President Joe Biden spoke at a campaign event in Atlanta on Saturday. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
His remorse came after a sudden turn of events at the State of the Union put him at odds with some in his own party.
Biden first mistakenly referred to Riley as “Lincoln Riley” and then called her alleged killer “unlawful.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Biden initially defended his use of the word “unlawful,” but ultimately recanted during his conversation with Capehart.
Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimpson contributed to this report.
