Overview

• President Donald Trump issued a proclamation for National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, accusing undocumented immigrants of driving a rise in sexual violence.
• The proclamation cites three cases involving immigrant suspects but ignores federal data showing that immigrants commit less crime, including sexual violence, than U.S.-born citizens.
• Critics have condemned the statement as racist and misleading, noting it uses sexual violence as a political tool to justify anti-immigrant policies.
• Trump's own history of sexual misconduct, including a 2023 court ruling finding him liable for sexually abusing E. Jean Carroll, has fueled accusations of hypocrisy.
• The proclamation marks a significant shift from Trump’s earlier statements on sexual assault, which focused on survivor support and perpetrator accountability.