Former President Donald Trump ignored a reporter’s question about why he appeared to praise fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter at a rally this weekend.
Speaking to the media outside a New York courtroom on Monday ahead of the fifth week of his hush money trial, Trump capitalized on positive poll numbers that put him ahead of President Trump. Joe Biden in the most important swing states.
But as he finished his smug speech, a reporter shouted, “Why Hannibal Lecter?”
The former president was referring on Saturday to the character played by Anthony Hopkins in a 1991 horror film when Trump tried to demonize undocumented immigrants.
Trump claimed that other countries were “emptying” their prisons and mental institutions and sending people across the border.
“‘Silence of the Lambs!'” he said at a rally in New Jersey. “Has anyone ever seen ‘Silence of the Lambs?'”
“The late, great Hannibal Lecter is a wonderful man. He often invited a friend to dinner,” Trump said, adding:
Remember the last scene? “Excuse me, I have a friend over for dinner,” when that poor doctor walked by. “I have a friend over for dinner.” But Hannibal Lecter. Congratulations! The late, great Hannibal Lecter. People are being released into our country that we don’t want in our country, and they’re coming in completely unchecked, without any vetting, and we can’t let that happen. They’re destroying our country.
Trump was questioned on the way to the courtroom while his former lawyer Michael Cohen took the witness stand.
