Former President Donald Trump, during his final campaign stop in North Carolina, declared that he would impose a significant tariff on goods from Mexico if the country fails to halt the influx of migrants entering the U.S.
The rally in Raleigh marked Trump’s concluding appeal to voters in North Carolina before Election Day, one of three crucial battleground state visits scheduled for Monday.
“This marks the end of a journey. However, a new one is about to begin. And that is the journey we have been eager to embark on, to Make America Great Again,” Trump told the audience.
For the first time, Trump announced that if elected, he would immediately implement a 25% tariff on all imports from Mexico unless the country curbs the flow of migrants and drugs entering the U.S.
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Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on Nov. 4, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Chip Somodevilla)
“I will notify Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on day one, or earlier, that unless they halt the inflow of criminals and drugs into our nation, I will immediately enforce a 25% tariff on all their exports to the United States,” Trump stated during the rally.
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“You are the first to hear this from me. Congratulations, North Carolina,” he added. “And with a guaranteed success rate of 100%, because if that doesn’t work, I will reduce it to 50%, and if that works, I will increase it to 75% for the tough ones, then to 100%.”
Trump emphasized that Mexico is taking advantage of the U.S. as one of its major trading partners.
Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on Nov. 4, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Chip Somodevilla)
Trump elaborated on his immigration and southern border strategy, stating, “We welcome individuals to enter our nation, but they must do so legally.”
“I will invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to combat and dismantle every criminal migrant network operating within the U.S. And if they re-enter our country, they will face an automatic 10-year imprisonment with no chance of parole,” he declared. “Additionally, I am demanding the death penalty for any migrant who kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer. I will also immediately prohibit all sanctuary cities.”
The former president also noted the record early voting turnout in the state, with approximately 4.2 million North Carolinians casting their ballots ahead of Election Day.
Hundreds of migrants are heading in a migrant caravan called the ‘Rey de Reyes’ toward the U.S. along the roads of southern Mexico in La Venta, the present-day Mexican state of Tabasco on Oct. 22, 2024.Â
Data from the North Carolina Board of Elections indicates that as of Friday, over 1.4 million registered Republicans have voted early compared to 1.35 million registered Democrats in the battleground state.
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Trump was joined at the event by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
