DALTON, Ga. — President Donald J. Trump brought the America First message to northwest Georgia on Friday, October 16, and he made sure the packed crowd never forgets the name Laken Riley. With early voting underway across the Peach State and the November 3 midterms less than three weeks away, the President drew a bright line between his secure-border record and the open-border politics of Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff.
“They imported sadistic illegal alien gang members and cartel savages to plunder, rape and kill,” President Trump said. “Right here in your state two years ago, a beautiful 22-year-old nursing student named Laken Riley was attacked on the campus of the University of Georgia and viciously assaulted and murdered — murdered by an illegal alien.” Then he named names: “That monster was set loose by the cruel open border policies of Jon Ossoff. He supported it. He wanted it. He wanted open borders. Who the hell wants open borders? And Laken Riley paid the price.”
The President reminded Georgians that he kept his word. “During the campaign, I promised Laken’s family that I would deliver justice for Laken. Laken has an incredible family,” he said. He pointed to his Alien Enemies Act declaration to expel Tren de Aragua and his designation of the gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization — adding: “It ain’t good for them.” The Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of illegal aliens charged with theft, burglary and violent crimes, was the very first bill President Trump signed into law in his second term.
The results speak for themselves. The White House marked the day with its “Laken Riley Is Our Why” video, declaring that President Trump promised Angel Families a secure border so what happened to Laken would never happen again — “He delivered. The fight continues.” Earlier Friday, DHS and CBP confirmed FY2026 delivered the lowest southwest border crossings in American history and the first fiscal year with zero Border Patrol releases.
Georgia’s choice is clear. Republicans Mike Collins for U.S. Senate and Rick Jackson for governor stand with President Trump on safety, a secure border and the Working Families Tax Cuts, while Democrats want to go back to the open-border chaos that cost Laken her life. Patriots: check your early-voting site with your county elections office and vote before October 30. Watch President Trump’s full remarks in the video above.
