Introduction
President Donald Trump made headlines during a January 20, 2026 press briefing by likening immigrants who entered the United States illegally to the notorious Hell’s Angels motorcycle club, calling them “the sweetest people on Earth.” The remarks came as the administration continued its aggressive immigration crackdown and sparked immediate backlash.
At a Glance
- Trump compared illegal immigrants to Hell’s Angels, labeling the club’s members as “criminals.”
- He praised the biker group for allegedly supporting his political endeavors.
- ICE data shows 75,000 arrests in the first nine months of Trump’s second term, with nearly one-third having no criminal record.
- Why it matters: The comments inflamed public debate over immigration policy and highlighted tensions between Trump’s rhetoric and the Justice Department’s stance on the Hell’s Angels.
The Press Briefing
The briefing, held on January 20, 2026, coincided with the first anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. During the event, the president addressed reporters on immigration, a central pillar of his agenda.
> “People that came in illegally … many cases, they’re criminals, in many, many cases. Remember when they used to say that the people that come into our country as immigrants are very nice people, they’re wonderful people, they don’t commit crime? No,” he told reporters. “They make our criminals look like babies.”
Trump continued: “They make our Hell’s Angels look like the sweetest people on Earth.” He then shifted to praise the club, claiming it had supported his political endeavors.
> “The Hell’s Angels are now considered a nice, high-quality person. I like the Hell’s Angels,” Trump said. “They voted for me. They protected me, actually, believe it or not. But they make our criminals look like babies.”
The remarks followed a broader statement about the administration’s focus on removing “criminals” from the country.
Trump’s Comparison to Hell’s Angels
The Hell’s Angels have long been described by the Department of Justice (DOJ) as a “criminal enterprise involved in multiple criminal activities.” In 2009, the DOJ linked the group to murder, drug distribution, and even an assassination plot against Mick Jagger.
Trump’s comparison was unprecedented, juxtaposing a protected group of immigrants with a criminal organization. The president’s comments were immediately criticized by civil rights advocates, immigration experts, and some lawmakers.
Key Points from the Comparison
- Trump dismissed the narrative that immigrants are “very nice people.”
- He suggested that immigrants’ presence made the Hell’s Angels appear less dangerous.
- The president’s praise of the club contradicted DOJ’s 2009 characterization.
Immigration Policy Context
During the briefing, Trump also discussed his administration’s immigration strategy. He acknowledged a “lot of heart” for people who entered illegally but emphasized the need to focus on “criminals.”
> “We have a lot of heart for people [who] came in illegally, but they’re good people and they’re working now on farms and they’re working in luncheonettes and hotels … We’re looking to get the criminals out right now.”
He listed murderers, drug dealers, and mentally insane individuals as priority targets, stating:
> “Every once in a while you see a story, we take somebody, he should be out because they came in illegally. So in theory, they should be but we’re focused on the murderers, the drug dealers, the mentally insane – we have a lot of mentally insane killers.”
The president’s remarks highlighted the tension between the administration’s hard-line stance and the broader public perception of immigrants.
ICE Arrest Data
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been a focal point of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. Data from the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project reveals:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total arrests (first 9 months of Trump’s second term) | 75,000 |
| Arrests with no criminal record | ~one-third |
The dataset, compiled by an internal ICE office and released in a lawsuit, shows that a significant portion of those detained had no prior criminal history. The data does not differentiate between minor offenses and violent crimes for those with past convictions.
Implications of the Data
- The high number of arrests raises questions about the effectiveness of the mass deportation strategy.
- The proportion of non-criminal arrests suggests potential overreach.
- The data underscores the need for clearer criteria in targeting individuals for removal.
Public and Political Reaction
The comments sparked immediate backlash across the political spectrum. Critics argued that Trump’s remarks were divisive and contradicted the DOJ’s longstanding view of the Hell’s Angels.
- Civil rights groups condemned the president’s comparison as hateful.
- Immigration advocates highlighted the data showing many arrested individuals had no criminal record.
- Some lawmakers called for a review of the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.
In the aftermath, the White House issued a statement clarifying that the president’s remarks were not intended to target any specific group.
Key Takeaways
- Trump’s comparison of immigrants to Hell’s Angels was unprecedented and controversial.
- The administration’s immigration strategy focuses on removing “criminals,” yet ICE data shows many arrests involve non-criminals.
- Public reaction indicates growing scrutiny of the Trump administration’s enforcement tactics.
- The incident underscores the complex relationship between presidential rhetoric, DOJ classifications, and ICE operations.
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Meta Description
President Donald Trump’s shocking comparison of illegal immigrants to Hell’s Angels sparks outrage amid a controversial immigration crackdown. Explore the facts, data, and reactions.
