Trump praises ICE agents for their ‘much larger, and harder, muscles’

Trump ICE muscles: Ex-president praises agents for ‘larger, harder’ physiques

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Former U.S. president Donald Trump told Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents they had developed “much larger, and harder, muscles” during his administration’s tenure, according to remarks published Tuesday.

Trump made the comments during a closed-door meeting with ICE personnel in Washington, three former officials who attended told The Independent.

The remarks highlighted Trump’s longstanding focus on projecting physical toughness within federal immigration enforcement. ICE agents underwent expanded duties during Trump’s 2017-2021 presidency, including workplace raids and increased arrests of undocumented immigrants without criminal records.

Trump convened the meeting in early 2020 to discuss enforcement priorities, two officials said. The former president shifted from policy briefings to personal observations about the agents’ appearance, according to attendees.

“You guys have gotten so much stronger,” Trump said, according to two officials present. “I can see it. Much larger, and harder, muscles.”

The former president connected physical fitness to enforcement capabilities, attendees said. Trump suggested muscular agents would intimidate immigration violators more effectively, one official recalled.

White House staffers present appeared uncomfortable, two attendees said. Senior adviser Stephen Miller changed the subject to deportation statistics, one official said.

The meeting occurred weeks after ICE launched its largest workplace enforcement action in a decade. Agents arrested 680 workers at Mississippi food processing plants in August 2019, officials confirmed.

ICE detention numbers peaked during Trump’s presidency. The agency held approximately 55,000 immigrants daily in 2019, compared with 34,000 in 2016, according to agency data.

Physical training standards remained unchanged throughout Trump’s term, current and former officials said. ICE applicants must complete push-ups, sit-ups and 1.5-mile runs at levels varying by age and gender, according to agency requirements.

Trump’s muscular rhetoric preceded expanded authorities for agents. The administration allowed ICE officers to arrest any undocumented immigrant, reversing Obama-era priorities that focused on serious criminals, officials confirmed.

Background

Trump centered his 2016 campaign on harsh immigration enforcement. He pledged to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and build a border wall, promises that energized his political base.

ICE operated under heightened scrutiny throughout Trump’s presidency. The agency’s workforce grew by approximately 6,000 employees between 2017 and 2020, according to federal budget documents.

Physical appearance became recurring themes in Trump’s immigration discourse. He repeatedly described border wall construction projects as “strong” and “beautiful,” according to White House transcripts.

The former president’s fitness comments extended beyond immigration enforcement. Trump praised military service members for their physical capabilities at rallies and official events, attendees reported.

What’s Next

Trump continues advocating stricter immigration enforcement at campaign rallies. He has pledged to revive his administration’s policies if elected in 2024, including workplace raids and expanded detention, according to recent speeches.

The muscular rhetoric reflects Trump’s broader messaging strategy linking physical dominance to immigration control effectiveness. Political analysts expect similar themes to feature prominently in his upcoming campaign appearances.