Trump's Immigration Rhetoric Draws 'Ethnic Cleansing' and White Christian Nationalist Criticisms

Controversial 'Remigration' Proposals and 'Ethnic Cleansing' Allegations

Former President Donald Trump's immigration proposals, particularly his advocacy for 'remigration,' have drawn significant criticism, with opponents alleging they amount to 'ethnic cleansing.' The term 'remigration,' associated with forced migration and mass deportations, has been popularized by far-right figures such as Austrian activist Martin Sellner. Critics, including Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan, have stated that Trump is 'calling for the ethnic cleansing of legal immigrants in the United States.' In October 2024, MSNBC reported that Trump's increasingly virulent language and emphasis on mass deportation were 'laying the groundwork for what could be conceptualized as a proto-ethnic cleansing project.' A December 2025 article in The Guardian further asserted that Trump's vision for the U.S. as a 'white Christian nation' would be achieved through 'the exclusion and removal of all who do not fit that vision – in other words, through ethnic cleansing.'

Resurfacing of 'Shithole Countries' Remarks

Trump recently confirmed using the phrase 'shithole countries' during a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, in December 2025, after years of denials. These comments echo remarks he reportedly made in January 2018 during an Oval Office meeting, where he questioned why the U.S. would accept immigrants from countries like El Salvador, Haiti, and various African nations, suggesting a preference for immigrants from places like Norway. During his recent rally, Trump mentioned pausing migration from 19 countries deemed high-risk and specifically questioned why the U.S. continues to take people from 'shithole countries' such as Somalia.

Targeting Representative Ilhan Omar and Somali Immigrants

In December 2025, during a cabinet meeting, Trump referred to Somali immigrants as 'garbage' and suggested they 'should be sent back home.' He specifically targeted Representative Ilhan Omar, a U.S. citizen born in Somalia, calling her 'garbage' and stating, 'we're going to go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country.' He also publicly declared, 'She should get the hell out. Throw her the hell out,' which was met with chants of 'Send her back' from his supporters. Earlier, in September 2025, Trump criticized Omar and Somalia, remarking, 'I love these people that come from a place with nothing. Nothing, no anything. And then they tell us how to run our country.' He has also promoted unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about Omar's immigration background.

Broader Criticisms of a 'White Christian Nationalist' Vision

Critics contend that Trump's rhetoric and proposed policies are part of a broader 'white Christian nationalist' vision for the United States. This perspective is seen as central to his 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) movement and a threat to pluralistic democracy. Adherents of white Christian nationalism typically oppose immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and efforts toward racial equality, believing the U.S. was founded as a white Christian nation. Trump's use of terms like 'vermin' and claims that immigrants are 'poisoning the blood' of the nation have been likened to Nazi ideology and a social Darwinist viewpoint. Furthermore, his administration's foreign policy has been described as rooted in white Christian nationalism, particularly concerning refugee policies and the concept of 'civilizational erasure' in Europe due to migration.