'They're sick people': Trump blames assailants’ genes for violence across US
Trump: A lot of them were let in here, they shouldn't have been let in. Their genetics are not exactly your genetics. It's one of those problems pic.twitter.com/Gx856Ji0Jq
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) March 13, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump blamed attackers’ genetics for a series of recent violent incidents across the country.
His remarks came following attacks at a Virginia university and a Michigan synagogue, and just days after someone threw an improvised explosive outside Gracie Mansion in New York City.
Trump claims attackers entered the US largely during Biden's presidency
Donald Trump told Fox News Radio in a Thursday, March 12, interview, which was released on Friday, that the attackers are “sick” or “bad” and shouldn’t have been allowed into the US.
He suggested that there is something wrong with their genetics, saying, “They’re sick people, and a lot of them were let in here. They shouldn’t have been let in. Others are just bad. They go bad. Something wrong — there’s something wrong there. The genetics are not exactly, they’re not exactly your genetics."
Earlier in the interview, Trump described the attackers as “sick” and “really demented” and also blamed US immigration policies under previous presidents for letting them enter the country. He claimed, “They came in a lot through Biden, and they came in through other presidents, frankly, and it’s a, it’s a disgrace.”
Trump’s comments followed a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where one person was killed and two others injured in an ROTC classroom on Thursday.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the attack is being investigated as a te**orist act, and court records show the gunman, 36‑year‑old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, had previously been convicted of supporting ISIS. Jalloh was a naturalized US citizen from Sierra Leone.
In another incident, on Thursday, according to authorities, 41‑year‑old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed an explosive-loaded vehicle into a Detroit-area synagogue, Temple Israel, which became engulfed in flames. Ghazali, who was found dead in the vehicle, was born in Lebanon and became a US citizen in 2016.
Trump often uses language about genes to praise and criticize people
This isn’t the first time Donald Trump has talked about genetics. In the past, he has used similar language to both praise and criticize people.
Last week, at a White House Medal of Honor ceremony, Trump spoke about US Army Staff Sgt Michael H Ollis, who received a posthumous award.
He said, “The genetics in that family are very strong, right? I said that before all three families, I said, 'Good.' I see some of the young ones today, and I said, 'You have good genes.' They were asking me, 'What does that mean?' I said, 'Don’t worry about it. You’ll figure it out.' But you have the best genes you can have, actually."
Last year, Trump also mentioned “good genes” when praising a naval officer at the military’s 250th anniversary. He said, “Wow. Look at this handsome guy. That’s good genetics. Good genes.”
He even praised NFL quarterback Shedeur Sanders on Truth Social, writing, “Shedeur Sanders was GREAT. Wins first game, career start, as a pro (for Cleveland). GreatGenes. I TOLD YOU SO!”
In 2024, while running for president, Trump suggested that immigrants who commit murder have “bad genes.” He said in an interview on 'The Hugh Hewitt Show', “You know, now a murderer, I believe this, it’s in their genes. And we got a lot of bad genes in our country right now.”
