Jim Acosta and Scott Jennings argue about migrant crime

CNN’s Jim Acosta And Scott Jennings The issue of migrant crime and Donald Trump’s rhetoric about it during a tense period on Monday morning.

After playing a clip in which Trump suggested that the Ultimate Fighting Championship should create a “new migrant fighting league,” Acosta gave the longtime Republican activist the opportunity to voice his opinion.

“Well, in a way that only Donald Trump can, he is drawing attention to the violence that we have seen across the country,” Jennings began before he was interrupted.

“Has he seen too many gladiator movies?” Acosta asked sarcastically.

JENNINGS: Listen, I mean, you can worry about the rhetoric, or you can worry about the murders, the rapes, the kidnappings that we’ve seen in many of these different stories. This is a big part of their campaign.ACOSTA: That’s dehumanizing rhetoric, Scott.JENNINGS: Would you say it’s more or less dehumanizing than murdering or raping someone? Honestly.ACOSTA: So, Scott, there’s been this influx at the border and crime has gone down pretty significantly.JENNINGS: Do you deny that there have been numerous incidents of murder, rape and kidnapping in this country recently?ACOSTA: Do you deny that crime is decreasing in this country? Do you deny that crime is decreasing,

There is this influx at the border? Do you deny that?JENNINGS: I do not deny the statistics, but I also want to say that there are important stories-ACOSTA: Do people without a migration background commit crimes?JENNINGS: Naturally!ACOSTA: Okay, what do we do about it? Try to solve the cases.JENNINGS: I believe that all violent criminals should be dealt with harshly, but are you saying that immigration and the impact of this illegal immigration crisis should not be part of that campaign?ACOSTA: No, I’m just asking: Why the hell is one of the two presidential candidates talking about giving immigrants gladiatorial combat experiences? Why is this even happening?

According to the democratic strategist Chuck Rocha Jennings chimed in, arguing that Trump was trying to “stir up fear of the migrant population,” he disagreed.

“He’s not stoking the fear, it’s being created by circumstance! We have a crisis at the southern border. People have been murdered. They’ve been raped. They’ve been kidnapped. And the fear is coming from the breaking news,” Jennings argued. “If Donald Trump wants to talk, I mean, if you were campaigning against an incumbent who was overseeing this crisis, you would do the same thing!”

“Nobody denies that there is a problem at the border,” Acosta added. “The question is: After family separations and

everything else we’ve seen during the Trump presidency, the Trump experience, they’re talking about detention centers in this country, about fight clubs. I mean, come on. When is your side going to say enough of this kind of rhetoric? It’s dehumanizing.”

“When will Republicans stop pointing out what they believe is Joe Biden’s greatest failure?” Jennings asked in response.

“So you’re OK with this? Is this OK with you? Migrant fight clubs?” Acosta asked.

“It’s not serious, he’s clearly joking at these rallies, but he’s drawing attention to something that is not fun,” Jennings responded. And that is the violence that is being perpetrated against a number of people.”

Watch it above via CNN.