In a lively town hall hosted by Fox News, former President Donald Trump stirred up a whirlwind of claims that seem poised to take center stage in his upcoming campaign and debate showdown with Vice President Kamala Harris, scheduled for September 10. One of the hottest topics he touched on was border security—a point that has always been a pillar of Trump's platform. Yet, this time, his assertions about terrorists pouring into the U.S. from the southern border raised more than a few eyebrows.
Bold Claims About Terrorists at the Southern Border
Let’s get into the meat of what Trump said. During the event, Trump claimed that “more terrorists have come into the United States in the last three years" than probably in the last 50. Now, hold on a second. This assertion leaves many scratching their heads, especially as we approach the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Remember, the 19 hijackers responsible for that tragedy didn't slip in through the southern border. They entered legally, and none crossed through Mexico. It's a bold statement for Trump to make, especially when reflecting on such a monumental and devastating terrorist attack that targeted his very own hometown, New York City, in 2001.
If terrorists were truly flooding the southern border, wouldn’t we expect to see a significant uptick in related incidents or arrests? You'd imagine there would be some notable terrorist activity—right? Yet, surprisingly, there have been no reported terrorist attacks in the U.S. in the past three years carried out by jihadists who allegedly crossed that southern border.
A Look at the Real Numbers and Incidents
To be clear, the last major terrorist attack carried out by a jihadist on American soil was back in 2019. And guess who was president then? Trump. A Saudi military officer, part of a U.S. Pentagon training program, opened fire at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, killing three American sailors. He didn't sneak in through the southern border; he was here legally.
And while Trump fixates on the southern border, it's important to point out that 22 Americans have lost their lives in attacks by far-right domestic terrorists in just the past few years. Remember the deadly incidents in Buffalo, New York, and Allen, Texas? According to data from New America, a non-partisan think tank, far-right extremists have been responsible for more murders in the U.S. than jihadists in recent times. Yet, when these tragedies occur, Trump seems far less vocal about addressing domestic terrorism.
Contradicting His Own Record on Terrorism
In true Trump fashion, the former president boldly stated during the town hall that there were no acts of “radical Islamic terror” during his presidency. Well, let's fact-check that. Aside from the Pensacola attack, there was also the 2017 incident in Manhattan, where an ISIS-inspired terrorist used a truck to mow down and kill eight people. That happened while Trump was in office. So, to say that the country was free from radical Islamic terrorism during his term is far from accurate.
The Southern Border and Fear Tactics
Trump’s focus on the southern border and terrorism isn't new—it’s a remix of his earlier calls for a Muslim ban during the 2016 election campaign. Back then, Trump masterfully played on Americans' fears by linking immigration with terrorism, capitalizing on the post-9/11 anxiety that still lingers in the minds of many.
To be fair, there are legitimate concerns about border security. A CNN report from June highlights that eight Tajikistan nationals, who crossed the southern border, were arrested on immigration charges. There were potential ties to terrorism, possibly even ISIS. However, there’s no solid evidence that these individuals were planning any attacks. It’s one thing to arrest someone with suspicious connections, but it’s a far leap to suggest they were part of a grand terrorist plot.
Even FBI Director Christopher Wray has raised concerns about terrorists potentially exploiting entry points into the U.S., including the southern border. Last year, he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that we are in a "heightened threat environment" and that there’s been an increase in “known or suspected terrorists” (KSTs) trying to cross into the U.S. over the past five years. So, while the threat isn’t entirely imagined, it’s also not as apocalyptic as Trump suggests.
What the Numbers Really Show
If you dig into the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s data for 2024, you'll find that there were 43 encounters with individuals on the terrorism watchlist at the southern border. While 43 may seem concerning, let’s put it into context. Just this year alone, there were 281 similar encounters on the U.S.-Canadian border—more than six times the amount at the southern border. Yet, Trump isn’t calling for a crackdown on northern border security. Could it be because his narrative doesn’t fit neatly into that reality?
Also, it’s worth noting that being on the terrorism watch list doesn’t necessarily mean someone is a terrorist. The list itself includes roughly two million names. So, simply being on that list doesn’t equate to a clear and present danger to the U.S. There are complexities that Trump’s broad statements fail to address.
More Political Rhetoric Than Substance
At the end of the day, Trump’s claim that more terrorists have entered the U.S. in the last three years than in the previous 50 feels more like political theater than reality. With no Islamist terrorist attacks on U.S. soil in the past three years and only a handful of terrorism-related arrests, there’s a serious gap between what Trump is saying and what the data shows.
And let's not forget, during his presidency, Trump did have to grapple with radical Islamic terrorism. So his claim of zero attacks during his term is simply false. As we head into the final stretch of the election campaign, we can expect Trump to repeat these claims, hoping they resonate with his base. Whether or not they hold up to scrutiny, well, that’s another matter.
Key Takeaways
- Trump claims that more terrorists have entered the U.S. through the southern border in the past three years than in the past 50 years—a statement that doesn’t hold up when you look at actual data.
- No jihadist terrorist attacks have been reported from southern border crossings in the past three years.
- Trump’s presidency did see radical Islamic terrorism incidents, including the 2019 Pensacola attack and the 2017 Manhattan attack.
- Far-right domestic terrorism remains a significant threat, with 22 Americans killed by such attackers in recent years.
- Border security concerns are valid, but Trump’s narrative exaggerates the threat, focusing disproportionately on the southern border while downplaying threats at the Canadian border.
Expect this rhetoric to ramp up as Trump navigates the upcoming campaign and debate stage—his strategy to tap into fear and concerns around immigration and terrorism may continue to be a central theme in his push to reclaim the presidency.
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