Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during his visit to the Mexican border in Hereford, Cochise County, Arizona, the United States, on August 22, 2024.
Tsuyoshi Nakamura | Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News on Thursday that one of his top priorities after taking office in January will be to make the border “strong and strong.” When asked about his campaign promises mass deportationsTrump said his administration had “no choice” but to implement the plans.
Trump said he believed his overwhelming victory Exceed Vice President Kamala Harris This week, one mission is to “bring common sense to the country.”
“Obviously, we have to make the border strong, and we have to — at the same time, we want people to come into our country,” he said. “You know, I’m not the type of person to say, ‘No, you can’t come in.’ “We want people to come in.
As a candidate, Trump repeatedly vowed to fulfill “The largest deportations in American history.” Asked about the cost of his plan, he said: “It’s not about the price tag. It’s not – actually, we have no choice. When people kill, when they murder, when drug lords destroy countries, they now Go back to those countries because they won’t stay here.
It’s unclear how many undocumented immigrants there are in the United States, but ICE Acting Director Patrick J. Lechleitner told NBC News Mass evictions in July will pose huge logistical and financial challenges. Two former administration officials involved in immigration matters during Trump’s first term told NBC News that the effort required cooperation among multiple federal agencies, including the Justice Department and the Pentagon.
Trump’s victories include Record growth in Latino voters, Democrats are trying to catch who they are by pointing out Trump’s remarks on immigration and a pro-Trump comedian. Racist jokes about Puerto Rico.
In a phone interview Thursday, he credited his message on immigration in part as the reason he won the election, saying: “They want to have borders, they like people coming in, but they have to bring love for the country. Come in.
Trump also noted that he has attracted a diverse coalition of voters, noting his gains Among Latino voters, young voterswomen and Asian American voters Starting in 2020.
“I’m starting to see a possible realignment happening because the Democratic Party doesn’t fit in with what this country wants,” the president-elect said. “You can’t defund the police, that kind of thing. They don’t want to give up, they don’t work, and people understand that.”
People hold signs reading “Mass Deportations Now” and “Make America Great Again” at the Feather Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the third day of the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
Trump also discussed his phone calls with Harris and President Joe Biden since the election.
“A very good call, very respectful on both sides,” Trump said, describing the conversation, adding that Harris “talked about the transition and she said she wanted it to be as smooth as possible, and I certainly agree with that.”
in her concession speech Wednesday at Howard UniversityHarris said she told Trump, “We’re going to help him and his team through the transition and we’re going to have a peaceful transfer of power.”
Biden, address the nation Speaking at the White House on Thursday morning, Trump urged voters to “accept the choice our country has made” to re-elect Trump.
Trump also said he and Biden agreed on the phone to have lunch together “soon.”
He also said he had spoken to “probably” 70 world leaders since Wednesday morning, including a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the president-elect called “a very good conversation.” .
Trump also said he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but gave no further details about the conversation.
He added that he had not yet spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin but “I think we will.”
On the campaign trail, Trump promised to end Russia’s war with Ukraine if elected and said in September he would negotiate a deal.This benefits both parties.“