A new survey has revealed that one in three Americans agree with former President Donald Trump's inflammatory assertion that undocumented immigrants are "poisoning the blood of our country." The findings, published by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) in partnership with the Brookings Institution, indicate the resonance of historically racist rhetoric within significant segments of the American population.
The annual survey, known as the American Values Survey, was conducted between August and October and gathered responses from over 5,000 adults across the United States. The results illustrate a stark divide in public sentiment towards immigration, with 34% of Americans agreeing with Trump's controversial phrase. This language, which has roots in Nazi rhetoric, echoes sentiments found in Adolf Hitler's 1925 manifesto, Mein Kampf.
"This is a truly alarming situation to find this kind of rhetoric, find this kind of support from one of our major political parties," said Robert P. Jones, president and founder of PRRI. "That language is straight out of Mein Kampf. This kind of 'poisoning the blood' rhetoric is Nazi language." The survey aimed to gauge public attitudes towards immigration and the influence of political rhetoric on those views.
According to the survey, support for Trump's statement was concentrated heavily among Republican voters, with 61% of Republicans agreeing that undocumented immigrants were "poisoning the blood" of the country. Among independents, 30% agreed, while only 13% of Democrats concurred with the statement. Notably, white evangelical Protestants were the only religious group in which a majority (60%) agreed that the statement applied to immigrants.
Trump's use of the phrase "poisoning the blood" has drawn sharp criticism for its overt racist overtones. He first made the comment during a September 2023 interview with a right-leaning website and repeated it at a rally in New Hampshire later that year. Trump has since used similar rhetoric in social media posts and campaign events, falsely accusing immigrants of crimes such as eating house pets and attributing their actions to "bad genes." Trump's statements have faced widespread condemnation from political opponents and activists, who have pointed out the dangerous historical parallels.
"I never thought I would have to ask a question on a survey about any group 'poisoning the blood' of another," Jones said, emphasizing how alarming it is to see such rhetoric gain traction in the mainstream. The poll results show a concerning overlap between far-right ideologies and mainstream political discourse, highlighting the lasting influence of Trump's presidency on shaping public attitudes towards immigration.
The survey also found that more than one-third of Americans (35%) agree with the statement that "immigrants are invading our country and replacing our cultural and ethnic background." This belief aligns with the "white replacement theory," a far-right conspiracy theory that has gained prominence in recent years. While agreement among Democrats has decreased from 20% in 2019 to 13% in 2024, the level of support among Republicans (65%) has remained largely consistent.
Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt defended the former president's remarks, saying that Trump's comments reflected his determination to restore effective immigration policies. "President Trump is committed to implementing brand-new crackdowns that will send shockwaves to all the world's criminal smugglers," Leavitt said in a statement. She added that Trump aims to lead the "largest deportation operation of illegal criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers in American history."
The rhetoric employed by Trump has raised concerns among political analysts and human rights advocates. Many fear that such language serves to legitimize xenophobia and embolden far-right extremist groups. "He's disgusting," said former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie, responding to Trump's comments during an interview. Geraldo Rivera, a television presenter, similarly rebuked Trump's statements, suggesting that it was impossible for any Latino person with self-esteem to support such divisive language.
Tensions over immigration have remained high, especially as Trump continues to lead in the polls among Republican candidates for the 2024 election. The survey also found that nearly one in four Trump supporters believe that, should Trump lose the upcoming election, he should declare the results invalid and do "whatever it takes" to assume office. This finding underscores the deepening divisions and challenges facing the American democratic process.
