Eric Trump criticizes spending on migrants and foreign wars

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Eric Trump, the Trump Organization Executive Vice President and son of former President Donald Trump, has expressed frustration with what he perceives as misplaced priorities in government spending. He questions the allocation of funds to foreign conflicts and undocumented immigration while domestic needs go unmet.

Trump’s concerns were heightened during the recent hurricane that affected his home state of Florida. He pointed out the discrepancy between FEMA’s spending on disaster relief and its expenditure on programs for migrants.

“FEMA’s out of money. Right? And they’ve only spent like $330 million on the storms. And yet FEMA has spent $1.4 billion on undocumented immigrants to this point,” Trump stated, referencing the agency’s “Shelter and Services Program” for migrants since 2022.

The 40-year-old Florida resident, who is set to be part of his father’s transition team if the former president wins the upcoming election, indicated plans for significant spending cuts. He emphasized the need for increased scrutiny of military expenditures, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Trump expressed concern about the human cost of war, especially its impact on children. As a father of three, he believes the US should limit its involvement in foreign conflicts to protect young lives.

“I know how much time it takes to raise a child,” Trump said. “I mean, it’s tens of thousands of hours. It’s the trips to the ice cream store, the time outs that you give them when they go the opposite direction. Right? And so I know what a waste [war] is. It’s such a waste of potential. It’s because of the propaganda and guns our government is funding by the billions. They’re all just being marched to their deaths.”

The war in Ukraine has taken a significant toll, with a UN report earlier this year indicating that 600 children have lost their lives in the conflict. Despite the US committing approximately $175 billion in aid to Ukraine, with an additional $425 million pledged by President Biden last month, public sentiment appears to be shifting.

A July survey by Redfield and Wilton revealed that half of all voters believe the US should either halt or reconsider its support for Ukraine. This figure rises to 67% among Trump voters, while 53% of Harris voters advocate for continued support.

Trump concluded by emphasizing the need for a more thoughtful approach to addressing global issues, stating, “We really can’t spend our way to a better world. That takes something bigger. It takes work.”