Donald Trump’s latest attempt to appeal to undecided Latino voters took an unexpected turn during a Univision town hall on Wednesday. Facing tough questions from Republicans and former Republicans still unsure of their support, the former president found himself on shaky ground, especially when asked to explain his actions on January 6.
Ramiro González, a 56-year-old construction worker from Tampa who had de-registered from the Republican Party, posed a question that seemed to catch Trump off guard. González said, “Your action and maybe inaction, during your presidency and maybe the last few years, sort of, was a little disturbing to me.… What happened during January 6, and the fact that you know, you waited so long to take action while your supporters were attacking the Capitol.”
Trump attempted to deflect the question by launching into his usual rhetoric about the 2020 election. He argued that the crowd that gathered in Washington that day was motivated not by him, but by their belief that the election was rigged. He insisted that he had called for peaceful behavior, saying, “I said ‘peacefully and patriotically,’ nothing done wrong at all.”
However, his defense quickly unraveled when he made contradictory statements, including a baffling remark about the shooting of Ashli Babbitt. Trump initially claimed that “Ashley Babbitt was killed. Nobody was killed,” before complaining about the Capitol Police being armed, which only confused the audience further.
The awkward exchange left many in the audience visibly uncomfortable, with some reacting in disbelief at Trump’s comments. González, in particular, appeared unconvinced, especially when Trump referred to January 6 as a “day of love.”
This town hall contrasted sharply with a previous Fox News event, where Trump fielded soft questions from a supportive audience. Reports even suggested that many of the women in attendance had received personal invitations from the network to create a more favorable environment for the Republican nominee.
Trump’s attempt to win over skeptical Latino voters fell flat, as his responses failed to address the concerns about his handling of the January 6 Capitol attack. Instead, it further highlighted the growing divide between him and the undecided voters he hopes to win back.
