Trump defends calling MS-13 members ‘animals’

BETHPAGE, N.Y. — Describing gang violence inflicted by MS-13 members in chilling and gruesome detail, President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday to make “radical” changes to U.S. aid practices by withholding government assistance from countries whose citizens enter the United States illegally.

“We’re going to work out something where every time somebody comes in from a certain country, we’re going to deduct a rather large amount of money from what we give them in aid — if we give them aid at all,” Trump said during a roundtable discussion on MS-13 on New York’s Long Island attended by federal and local officials.

White House officials did not immediately respond to questions about which countries the president was referencing or how far along the plan was — but it’s not the first time he’s made the suggestion.

Trump threatened in February to cut off aid from and slap sanctions on countries that refuse to accept nationals the U.S. tries to deport, saying, “If they don’t take ’em back, we’ll put sanctions on the countries, we’ll put tariffs on the countries.”

During the roundtable, Trump and officials who support more stringent border laws defended his references to MS-13 gang members as “animals” as they recounted a litany of hackings, decapitations, bludgeonings and other gruesome crimes law enforcement authorities blame on the group.

“I called them animals the other day and I was met with rebuke,” Trump said, referencing Democratic criticism. He specifically mentioned House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi as saying even gang members are people.

“They’re not people,” Trump said. “These are animals and we have to be very, very tough.”

Pelosi had commented more broadly on Trump’s rhetoric and policies directed at immigrants, including changes the administration wants that could lead to more children being separated from their parents as they cross the border illegally.

“It’s harder and harder for the Democrats,” Trump said, suggesting the party would suffer politically for its harsh reaction to his “animals” remark.

“The other day was actually a great day when they were coming to the defense of MS-13,” he said.