Fact Check: Did Trump really say he hoped Texas flood victims were 'immigrants' and 'not Americans'?
WASHINGTON, DC: A rumor has been going around that President Donald Trump said he hoped the victims of the Texas floods were "immigrants, not Americans."
As awful as that sounds, the quote blew up on social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
The words first popped up in a TikTok video posted on July 11, featuring flood footage intercut with Trump speaking to the press. A grave-sounding voiceover claimed Trump mocked flood victims with what it called “the cruelest remark of his career.”
The narrator said, "Trump mocks flood victims in Texas with the cruelest remark of his career. The water destroyed everything: homes, streets, entire families. But what Trump said hurt even more.”
When asked how he planned to help, Trump allegedly responded, “That’s in the hands of local authorities.” When asked if he had any compassion, the video alleged he shrugged and said, “Accidents happen,” before adding, “I hope the dead are immigrants, not Americans.”
The voiceover continued, “That sentence froze the nation, and within seconds, it went around the world.” It claimed Latino groups, activists, churches, and “thousands of citizens” were demanding justice. The clip urged viewers to comment “Justice for all” and share before the video was “erased.”
Fact Check: No evidence Donald Trump made such a remark
Fact-checking outlet Snopes investigated the claim and found no evidence whatsoever that Donald Trump made the remark.
For starters, every version of the quote online includes only a voiceover. There’s no video or audio proof of the president actually saying it. Not only that, but the voice sounds suspiciously artificial and likely the work of AI.
If Trump had uttered something that controversial, it would be plastered across every major news network on the planet.
Another dead giveaway is that the video bizarrely refers to Trump as a “former president,” even though he’s currently the sitting president.
Snopes looked for media reports or public outrage from the groups the video claimed were up in arms. But there wasn’t a single legitimate news source covering it — because it never happened.
What Donald Trump actually said during his Texas visit
On July 11, Donald Trump held a news conference in Texas where he spoke at length about the disastrous floods.
“The first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood," he said.
"We mourn for every single life that was swept away in the flood, and we pray for the families that are left behind. It's amazing, the incredible spirit from those families," the MAGA leader added.
Trump also praised first responders and got a little snippy with a reporter who questioned the delay in flood alerts. “Only an evil person would ask a question like that," he told them.
He then doubled down on the resilience of the rescue efforts., saying, “I think this has been heroism. This has been incredible. Really, the job you've all done. It's easy to sit back and say, 'Oh, what could have happened here or there, maybe we could have done something differently.' This was a thing […] that's never happened before."
Trump posted another statement on Truth Social, and there was no trace of anything close to that inflammatory quote.
“These families are enduring an unimaginable tragedy, with many lives lost, and many still missing. The Trump Administration continues to work closely with State and Local Leaders," he wrote.
"Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was on the ground yesterday with Governor Greg Abbott, who is working hard to help the people of his Great State. Our incredible U.S. Coast Guard, together with State First Responders, have saved more than 850 lives. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!” the president added.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
