Nicole Malliotakis slammed for defending Trump's anti-immigrant 'poisoning the blood of our country' remark

STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK: On Monday, December 18, Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) appeared on 'CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip' and vehemently denied Donald Trump's "poisoning the blood of our country" comment made against immigrants.

During a Durham, New Hampshire rally on Saturday, December 16, the former president also promised "to stop the invasion of our southern border and begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history," as per Reuters. 

Malliotakis, who previously aided Trump by voting against certifying the election results in 2021, seemingly came to the former president’s defense, shielding him from any backlash he might face for his anti-immigration stance, as evident from his recent rally speeches.

Nicole Malliotakis claims Donald Trump never said 'immigrants'

Phillip, the host of 'CNN NewsNight', stated to Rep Malliotakis, "You're saying that's what you think he's saying. But he was pretty clear. He was saying that the immigrants who are coming in, he says they're poisoning the blood of the nation."

Malliotakis interjected, "Never said 'immigrants'."

"He says poisoning though," retaliated Phillip, adding, "He's talking about people coming. We just played it."

Subsequently, the New York Rep claimed, "He didn't say the word 'immigrants'. I think he was talking about the Democratic policies."

The CNN host, unimpressed with the Staten Island politician’s assessment, pushed her by reiterating, "He was talking about people. He was talking about people."

The congresswoman expressed, "Look, I know that some are trying to make it seem like President Trump is anti-immigrant. The reality is he was married to immigrants, he's hired immigrants. He was talking about people coming across the border." 

Phillip then asked Malliotakis, "He was saying that they were bringing crime, they were bringing violence with them when they came into. Will you agree that they were talking about immigrants?"

Malliotakis answered in the negative and went on to explain why the former president said what he said last weekend in New Hampshire, but earlier this month, she made headlines herself for alleging that New York City officials were trying to help get illegal immigrants registered to vote, something the city has staunchly denied.

In July 2022, a New York state judge invalidated a provision that the City Council approved in 2021 allowing noncitizen residents to cast votes in local elections, as per Fox News. 

Among the legislators suing the city over the local ordinance was Malliotakis. The city, along with migrant rights organizations, filed an appeal against the ruling.

Nicole Malliotakis faces backlash for trying to deny Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric

Soon after Malliotakis' interview with Phillip came to light, netizens took to bashing the House Republican as she tried to deny and defend the inflammatory comments made by Trump against immigrants. 

One said, "so used to lying they forgot how to lie," and another wrote, "Why platform someone who will blatantly lie like that? They literally played the video before posing the question."

"He is always against immigrants And everyone knows that," opined a person.

Someone else remarked, "Malliotakis and Stefanik are from the same mold, the one lacking the honesty ingredient."

One more commented, "It defies all credibility," while another person pointed out, "Says the woman whose parents are from Greece and Cuba wtf is literally wrong with you denying what he said you are all way way gone." 

"Defending the indefensible, so this is the best they can come up with?" expressed an individual, with a netizen adding, "She is spewing lie after lie."

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.