CNN Segment Faces Backlash
Ana Navarro has recently criticized fellow Latinos who support former President Donald Trump in the context of the 2024 presidential election. According to the Daily Mail, Navarro described their stance on immigration as “very stupid,” suggesting that they have forgotten their roots and believe that adopting an anti-immigrant position will help them assimilate into American society.
Navarro’s comments highlight a significant issue within the Latino community: the internal conflict over immigration policy and identity. “There are some Latino immigrants who forget they came here as immigrants and who want to shut the door behind them,” she said. “They think being anti-immigrant somehow is going to make them pass as more American… And that’s a very stupid attitude to have.”
Navarro further emphasized the dangers of such attitudes by referencing the 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, where a gunman targeted Hispanics. She pointed out that racists do not distinguish between documented and undocumented immigrants; they target individuals based on their appearance.
“What folks don’t realize is that when the guy drives thousands of miles to go hunt down Latinos in a Walmart in Texas, he doesn’t care when you came here. He doesn’t care what your accent is,” Navarro stated. “What he’s looking for is, does it look like me, does it sound like me? That’s what he’s looking for.”
In a separate event, former President Trump held a rally in the Bronx, drawing a considerable crowd. Despite the significant Latino presence, Trump maintained his tough stance on illegal immigration, attributing it to crimes like rape, abuse, and the spread of disease. This rhetoric has drawn criticism, notably from Jim Acosta, who accused Trump of using “incendiary rhetoric to demonize immigrants.”
Acosta highlighted a curious trend: Trump is gaining traction among Latino and African American voters, posing a potential threat to President Biden’s re-election campaign. He asked Navarro about this apparent disconnect. Navarro responded by acknowledging that while many are aware of Trump’s divisive comments, they may not take them seriously.
“People already know the guy’s a misogynist, they already know he’s a racist, they already know he says divisive things, and they seem not to take him literally or seriously,” she said. “They think it is part of a clown act entertainment.”
Navarro’s remarks reflect a broader debate within the Latino community about identity, assimilation, and political allegiance. Her criticism underscores the complex dynamics at play as Latinos navigate their place in American society amid the polarizing rhetoric of contemporary politics.