Former President Donald Trump made migrant crime a centerpiece of his speech with law enforcement in Grand Rapids, Michigan — and particularly the case of Ruby Garcia, a young woman believed to have been murdered by an immigrant.
But aside from getting Garcia's age wrong in his speech, Trump may have lied about speaking to Garcia's family.
While Trump said he had spoke to Garcia's family, her sister Mavi Garcia told a local news outlet, “He did not speak with any of us, so it was kind of shocking seeing that he had said that he had spoke with us."
Commenters on social media called it a new low for the former president.
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"Trump has done more abhorrent things than I can count, but this is one of the most despicable," wrote USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X. "He lied about talking to the family of a murder victim, p---ing them off with his anti-immigrant rhetoric."
"Trump lied about meeting with the family of a slain woman," wrote former Chicago Tribune editor Mark Jacob. "Because he’s a liar who exploits human misery. And the people who support him are partners in his despicable conduct."
"Trump doesn’t care about the people he uses for his demagogic rants," wrote political commentator and Minnesota State House candidate Will Stancil. "They’re completely disposable. He just needs fuel to fire up his hate mobs, so he can stay the center of attention."
"Who is surprised that he would use crime victims as props — and lie about them to boot?!" wrote filmmaker Melissa Jo Peltier.
"I'm old enough to remember Howard Dean making a weird noise in a [post]-primary speech and it ending his career as an elected official," wrote the account "DoomerVonDoomington." "This a------ is in the running for Worst Human Ever and Republicans swear he's like Reagan and Jesus had a baby."
