O’Reilly scolds Trump on immigrant rape comments: He ‘continues to personalize our problems’

Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly slammed President Trump on Friday for his comments on illegal immigration, following the president’s comments decrying the rape of women coming from Central America. 

The longtime network host, who was fired from Fox last year in the face of multiple sexual harassment allegations, suggested Trump’s recent actions to enhance the border made good policy, but that the president obscured the issue with his controversial remarks on an incoming “caravan” of immigrants and asylum-seekers. 

“President Trump is doing the right thing at the southern border but the wrong thing in explaining the policy. Mr. Trump continues to personalize our problems with Mexico by mentioning rape etc. thereby fogging up the issue,” O’Reilly tweeted.

President Trump is doing the right thing at the southern border but the wrong thing in explaining the policy. Mr. Trump continues to personalize our problems with Mexico by mentioning rape etc. thereby fogging up the issue.

— Bill O’Reilly (@BillOReilly) April 6, 2018

Trump said women coming to the U.S. from Central American countries through Mexico “are raped at levels that nobody’s ever seen before” in off-script remarks during a Thursday event. The president’s comments echo his long-held idea that illegal immigrants from Mexico disproportionately consist of rapists and other criminals. 

On Wednesday, Trump ordered the deployment of U.S. National Guard troops to the southern border, where they will help deter criminal border crossings. Trump has narrowed his sights on immigration this week, amid reports of a caravan of mostly Honduran workers seeking entrance into the U.S. through Mexico.