President Donald Trump has shown his disregard for Latino community time and time again. From calling Mexicans “rapists” and “criminals” to never bothering to learn how to address our community (“the Hispanic Latinos”), Trump has disrespected Latinos for far too long. At a White House event to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Trump’s racism once again showed when he introduced a Latino CBP agent.
“Come here, come here, you’re not nervous,” Trump said. “He speaks perfect English.”
And while this agent is certainly complicit in enacting the United States’ anti-immigration laws, Trump should not be othering him. With this comment, Trump reinforces stereotypes that all Latinos have accents (they don’t) and that having an accent somehow makes someone incapable of speaking eloquently or making well thought-out speeches.
It didn’t take up too much time of the event, but Trump’s words have shaken up the internet, who are calling him out for his casual racism.
And here’s more proof that Trump shouldn’t be judging anyone’s English.