Trump’s NEW Racial Firestorm: ‘Inner City People Won’t Do Farm Work’ While Immigrants ‘Do it Naturally’
Trump Says Undocumented Immigrants Are “Naturally” Farm Workers
On Tuesday (08-05-25), Donald Trump stirred controversy on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” by claiming undocumented immigrants are “naturally” suited for farm labor.
He contrasted them with “inner city” residents, saying, “They don’t do it. These people do it naturally. Naturally.” He then shared a questionable anecdote about a farmer who allegedly said injured workers “die” rather than get “bad backs.”
Trump’s remarks came during a discussion on his administration’s immigration policies and their impact on agriculture. His comments are being condemned for evoking racist stereotypes historically used to justify exploitative labor practices, particularly toward marginalized Black and Brown communities.
Despite championing mass deportations, Trump admitted farmers “can’t have nobody” and floated a vague “touchback” program, where undocumented workers would briefly leave the country before returning legally—a plan that critics say is both impractical and politically contradictory.
Agriculture’s Reliance on Undocumented Workers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that roughly 42% of crop farmworkers are undocumented, with nearly 70% foreign-born. This labor is essential in states like California and Texas, where up to 80% of farmworkers lack legal status. The sector employs about 2.4 million people nationwide.
Farmers warn that deportations and ICE raids are wreaking havoc. Vernon, a Central Valley farmer, described crops rotting in fields and wages rising to $44/hour for grueling piecework with few takers. Despite high pay, American-born workers often avoid these jobs due to harsh conditions, long hours, and minimal protections.
Trump acknowledged these realities but doubled down on his crackdown. “We can’t let our farmers not have anybody,” he said, while simultaneously defending aggressive raids that have terrified immigrant communities.
ICE Raids Intensify Fear and Disruption
Trump’s deportation push has led to high-profile ICE raids, halting briefly in June before resuming under pressure from immigration hardliners like Stephen Miller. A tragic incident in Ventura County saw a worker fall to his death during an ICE raid at a cannabis farm, amplifying criticism of the administration’s tactics.
In California’s Central Valley, where most farmworkers are undocumented, raids have caused chaos, leading to labor shortages and a palpable sense of fear among workers. One advocate described communities feeling “hunted like animals.”
Meanwhile, the administration’s proposal to recruit Medicaid recipients or use automation to replace immigrant labor was met with skepticism. Experts say these ideas fail to address the experience and physical endurance required for farm work.
Critics Blast Trump’s Racial Undertones
Trump’s assertion that immigrants are “naturally” suited for farm labor drew immediate backlash. Outlets like TheGrio compared it to pseudoscientific claims used to justify slavery, while social media erupted. User @production_3 called the comments “dehumanizing,” arguing they perpetuate racial stereotypes about Black and Brown workers.
Jon Favreau mocked Trump’s anecdotal style, saying, “The farmer quote sounds like something ripped from an SNL skit.” Critics point out that Trump’s “natural” framing erases the dangerous realities of agricultural work, where injury and exploitation are rampant.
Trump’s past statements about immigrants “poisoning the blood” of America add to the perception that his rhetoric links race, labor, and worthiness in disturbing ways.
Farmers and Advocates Push Back
The American Farm Bureau Federation has urged Trump to temper his deportation plans, warning of food price hikes and supply chain instability. “If you remove our workforce, shelves go empty,” one farmer warned.
United Farm Workers President Teresa Romero condemned the raids as “unconstitutional” and likened them to “kidnapping.” Advocates like Rosalinda Guillen argue that Trump’s suggestion to let farmers “vouch” for workers creates “legalized oppression,” putting unchecked control in employers’ hands.
Some Republicans, like Rep. Tony Gonzales, have urged Trump to focus enforcement on violent offenders instead of farmworkers, though hardliners reject such carve-outs as “amnesty.”
Economic Fallout Looms Amid Policy Confusion
Economists warn that deporting millions could devastate labor-reliant industries. Goldman Sachs estimates undocumented immigrants make up 4–5% of the U.S. workforce, with agriculture among the hardest hit. Carnegie Mellon economist Brian Kovak cautioned that removing these workers would raise wages and food prices significantly.
Trump’s shifting approach—halting raids, restarting them, proposing “touchback” programs—has left farmers and workers in limbo. Without clear policy direction, many fear ongoing instability in both food supply and immigrant communities.
For now, Trump’s comments have intensified debate, painting a stark picture: a president caught between hardline promises, economic realities, and language critics say harkens back to the country’s ugliest chapters.
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