Former President Donald Trump has taken aim at President Joe Biden for his recent remarks during the State of the Union speech, where he mistakenly referred to Laken Riley’s killer as an “illegal” and also mixed up her name, calling her Lincoln Riley. Trump criticized Biden for expressing regret over using the term “illegal” to describe the killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, instead of apologizing for his mistake.
Campaigning in Rome, Georgia, Trump condemned Biden’s actions, stating, “Joe Biden went on television and apologized for calling Laken’s murderer an illegal. Biden should be apologizing for apologizing to this killer.” Trump emphasized his stance on immigration policies, asserting that Ibarra should never have been in the country under his administration’s policies.
Biden’s gaffe during the speech drew attention, especially when Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene urged him to correctly say Laken Riley’s name. Biden responded by stating, “I know how to say her name,” but then proceeded to call her Lincoln Riley, further fueling the controversy.
In a subsequent interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart, Biden expressed regret for using the term “illegal” to describe Ibarra, emphasizing that he should have used the term “undocumented” instead. However, he did not issue an apology for mispronouncing Riley’s name.
The case of Laken Riley’s murder, committed by Ibarra, an illegal immigrant, has sparked outrage and debate over immigration policies and the handling of such crimes. Riley’s mother, Allyson Phillips, also criticized Biden for his mistake, stating on Facebook, “Biden does not even KNOW my child’s name – it’s pathetic!”
The incident has reignited discussions on immigration, crime, and the responsibilities of public figures in addressing sensitive issues. As the controversy continues to unfold, the debate over Biden’s remarks and Trump’s response remains at the forefront of political discourse.