CNN’s Jim Acosta and Scott Jennings Go At It Over Migrant Crime: ‘More or Less Dehumanizing Than Murdering and Raping?’

CNN’s Jim Acosta and Scott Jennings went at it over the issue of migrant crime and Donald Trump’s rhetoric about it during a tense segment on Monday morning.

After playing a clip of Trump suggesting that the Ultimate Fighting Championship should start a “new migrant fight league,” Acosta gave the longtime Republican operative a chance to weigh in.

,”Well, in a way only Donald Trump can, He is drawing attention to the violent activity that we have seen in places all over this country,” began Jennings before being cut off.

“Has he seen too many gladiator movies?” asked Acosta sarcastically.

JENNINGS: Listen, I mean, you can you can worry about it, the rhetoric, or you can worry about the murders , the rapes , the kidnappings that we’ve seen in a lot of these different stories. This is a this is a big part of their campaign.

ACOSTA: It’s dehumanizing rhetoric, Scott.

JENNINGS: Would you say it is more or less dehumanizing than murdering and raping someone? I mean, honestly.

ACOSTA: Well, Scott, there’s been this influx at the border and crime has been coming down in a pretty major way.

JENNINGS: Are you denying that we have had a number of incidents in this country recently where people have been murdered, raped and kidnapped?

ACOSTA: Are you denying that crime is coming down in this country? Are you denying that crime is coming down as there is this influx at the border? Are you denying that?

JENNINGS: I’m not denying statistics, but I’m also here to say that there are  important stories-

ACOSTA: Do non-migrant people commit crimes?

JENNINGS: Of course!

ACOSTA: Okay, what do we do about that? Try to solve the cases.

JENNINGS: I think all violent criminals should be cracked down on. But are you saying that immigration and the impacts of this illegal immigration crisis should not be part of this campaign?

ACOSTA: No, I’m just saying, you know, why in the hell is one of the two presidential candidates talking about putting migrants into gladiator fight like experiences? Why is that even going on?

After Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha jumped in to argue that Trump was trying to “create fear,” about the migrant population, Jennings objected.

He’s not creating the fear, the fear is being created by the circumstances! We do have a crisis at the southern border. People have been murdered. They have been raped. They have been kidnaped. And so the fear comes from the actual news,” argued Jennings. “If Donald Trump wants to talk, I mean, if you were running a campaign against an incumbent who was overseeing this crisis, you’d do the same thing!”

“Nobody’s denying there’s a problem at the border,” submitted Acosta. “The question is: after, you know, family separations and everything else we’ve seen during the Trump presidency, the Trump experience, they’re talking about deportation camps in this country, fight clubs. I mean, come on. At what point does your side say enough is enough on that kind of rhetoric? It’s dehumanizing.”

“At what point are the Republicans going to stop drawing attention to what they think is Joe Biden’s biggest failure?” asked Jennings in reply.

“So you’re okay with this? You’re all right with it? Migrant fight clubs?” inquired Acosta.

“This is not a serious, he’s clearly joking at these rallies, but he’s drawing attention to something that’s no laughing matter,” answered Jennings And that’s the violence being committed against a number of people.”

Watch above via CNN.