Human rights advocates condemned former President Donald Trump’s remarks on Palestinians and immigrants during Thursday’s debate with President Joe Biden.
Biden and Trump briefly discussed the war in Gaza. However, they did not thoroughly address ending the conflict, which, according to the Gaza health ministry, has killed 38,000 people and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis.
The war started when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage, Israeli sources report.
Biden claimed only Hamas wants the war to continue. Trump countered, saying Biden has “become like a Palestinian,” which advocates interpreted as a slur.
Trump further insulted Biden in a rally, calling Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Palestinian for political gain.
The Council on American Islamic Relations criticized Biden for his remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanting peace. They also condemned Trump’s use of “Palestinian” as a racist slur during the debate.
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“To use ‘Palestinian’ as an insult, as Trump did, reeks of racism and anti-Arab hatred,” said Paul O’Brien of Amnesty International USA.
Reports indicate a rise in Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian bias, and antisemitism in the U.S. since the latest Middle East conflict. The war in Gaza and U.S. support for Israel have sparked nationwide protests.
Trump also faced backlash for using terms like “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs,” suggesting immigrants take these jobs away. This claim lacks evidence, as studies show immigrants do not commit more crimes than native-born Americans.
Civil rights organizations have dismissed the idea of specific “Black jobs” and “Hispanic jobs” as nonsensical.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to criticism. Immigration remains a heated election issue, with Trump accusing Biden of failing to secure the U.S. border and allowing criminals to enter, a claim not supported by data.
Adrianne Shropshire of BlackPAC criticized Trump’s approach, emphasizing the need for Biden to counter such false narratives more vigorously.
