The Daily Fuckup

Donald Trump’s Dec. 16 rally in Durham, New Hampshire, put immigration back on center stage, this time with language that has already drawn repeated condemnation. Speaking at the Whittemore Center Arena on the University of New Hampshire campus, Trump again said migrants are “poisoning the blood” of the country. The event page for the rally lists the date, location and venue, and the transcript of the speech captures the line in context. ([event.donaldjtrump.com](https://event.donaldjtrump.com/events/45th-president-of-the-united-states-donald-j-trump-to-hold-a-rally-in-durham-new-hampshire))

Trump used the appearance to hammer the border, attack migrants and tie his campaign pitch to the idea that the country is being pushed off course. In the transcript, he says the nation is being “destroying” by the people he says were given a chance, then pivots back to familiar campaign themes about border security, national decline and political betrayal. ([rev.com](https://www.rev.com/transcripts/trump-rally-from-durham-new-hampshire-12-16-23-transcript))

The remark immediately renewed criticism from opponents and immigration advocates, who said the language echoed Nazi-era blood-and-soil rhetoric and dehumanized immigrants. Coverage from New Hampshire Public Radio and Reuters described the backlash as fast and sharp after the rally. ([nhpr.org](https://www.nhpr.org/politics/2023-12-17/at-new-hampshire-rally-trump-invokes-nazi-era-blood-rhetoric-against-immigrants))

The stop fit Trump’s larger campaign pattern: keep immigration in the foreground, keep the base agitated and keep the rest of the race on his terms. On Dec. 16, the headline was not a policy rollout or a new general-election message. It was a reminder that Trump is still treating immigration as both a wedge issue and a core part of his political identity. ([event.donaldjtrump.com](https://event.donaldjtrump.com/events/45th-president-of-the-united-states-donald-j-trump-to-hold-a-rally-in-durham-new-hampshire))