Fact Check: Did Trump call Black children 'natural born killers' and 'born criminals'?

WASHINGTON, DC: A claim about US President Donald Trump calling Black children “natural born killers” and “born criminals” is doing the rounds on social media.

It began after Trump made controversial remarks during a September 2, 2025, White House briefing about deploying federal forces to crime-heavy cities.

Claim: Donald Trump called black children ‘natural born killers’ and ‘born criminals’

The video clips circulating on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and X appeared to show Trump saying, “They’re hardcore. They’re not going to be good. In 10 years, in 20 years, in 2 years, they’re going to be criminals. They were born to be criminals, frankly.” Overlaid captions on the videos claimed Trump was referring to Black or Brown children.

One widely shared post read, “Calling Black children this. UNACCEPTABLE.”

Fact Check: Donald Trump did not call Black children ‘natural born killers’

While Trump did use the phrase “born to be criminals” in his September 2 comments, he never explicitly mentioned Black children or used the words “natural born killers.” The remarks came after Trump praised federal crackdowns in Washington, DC, and suggested similar measures might be needed in Baltimore and Chicago.

He described those arrested as “hardcore criminals” who would remain dangerous regardless of time or circumstance.

He said, “I'm very proud of Washington. It serves as a template and we're going to do it elsewhere. But Chicago is certainly going to be high. I would love to have him call. I would love the governor of Illinois, I'd be honored to take his call. All he has to do is say, “Sir, we need help, it's out of control.” And everyone knows it is.”

The misattribution seems to have stemmed from a social media response by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who accused Trump’s language of being racially coded. Critics of the president amplified Moore’s framing, leading many to believe Trump had directly referred to Black children.

However, a review of the full September 2 briefing transcript shows Trump never mentioned race or children. When asked for clarification, a White House spokesperson denied the viral claim, writing in an email to Snopes: “Please send me the quote where the president says this.”

Trump did say some people are “born to be criminals” during his briefing, but he did not call Black children “natural born killers” or “born criminals.” That claim is a misleading interpretation of his remarks.

Governor Wes Moore blasts Donald Trump’s remarks as racist

Maryland Gov Wes Moore has strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s recent remarks, suggesting they carried racist undertones. Although Trump did not directly reference race when he reportedly described children as “natural born killers,” Moore said the language was demeaning and dangerous.

In a video statement posted to his social media channels, Moore declared:

“When the president from the Oval Office calls you “natural born killers,” children who were born to be violent, I say this: I respect the office, but I will never honor ignorance.”

“To our children, you are loved and you're needed. To our children, we believe in you and we invest in you. To our children, we love you and we are going to honor every God-honored potential that you have. To our children, there's nothing we won't do to keep you safe. To our children, we love you and we are going to make sure that you are never bullied. And I don't care what position they hold.”

The governor emphasized that children should not be defined by stereotypes or prejudices, framing his remarks as a pledge to protect every child in Maryland.