Donald Trump has never been known for subtlety in his public statements, but his late-night Thanksgiving message this year left many Americans stunned — including some of his own supporters.
After a day marked by renewed debate over immigration following the shooting of two National Guard members near the White House, the former president released a holiday message that quickly spiraled into a broad, heated critique of political rivals, immigration policies, and the state of the nation.
What began as a traditional Thanksgiving greeting on Truth Social soon shifted into a lengthy, aggressive commentary. Trump insisted on implementing what he called a “permanent pause” on all immigration from “Third World countries,” and sharply criticized several Democratic leaders.
The message came just days after two National Guard members were shot near the Farragut metro station in Washington, D.C. Officials identified the suspected gunman as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who arrived in the U.S. in 2021. He was later injured and hospitalized after being shot by law enforcement.
Trump responded to the incident by claiming current immigration policies were to blame, promising in his Thanksgiving message to halt migration, reverse recent admissions, and impose stricter rules on who can remain in the United States.
It was his remarks about specific political figures, however, that drew intense backlash. In the same post, Trump referred to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz using a derogatory slur and targeted Representative Ilhan Omar, making comments about her background and faith.
Walz quickly responded on X (formerly Twitter) by reposting Trump’s message alongside a pointed caption: “Release the MRI results.”
As controversy spread, CNN reported a key detail that complicated Trump’s claims: Lakanwal had actually applied for asylum in 2024, and his asylum request was approved by the Trump administration in April 2025 — not under President Biden, as Trump suggested. When a reporter asked Trump about this, he dismissed her as “stupid” and sidestepped the question.
Trump’s full message, which stretched into several paragraphs, blamed immigration for a wide range of societal issues and warned that those who “hate, steal, murder, and destroy everything that America stands for” would “not be here for long.” The post quickly became one of the most talked-about political statements of the holiday.
The reaction across social media and political circles has been sharply divided. Supporters argued that Trump was speaking bluntly about national security, while critics condemned his rhetoric as inflammatory, misleading, and inappropriate for a Thanksgiving address.
With immigration once again thrust into the center of political debate — and with the details of the D.C. shooting still under investigation — Trump’s message is likely to remain a focal point in the days ahead.
What do you think of Trump’s Thanksgiving message? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
