Linda Ronstadt slams ‘rapist’ Trump for holding Arizona rally in her namesake hall

The famed Mexican American singer Linda Ronstadt has condemned Donald Trump for his “hatred” as the Republican presidential nominee prepares to host a rally in her namesake hall in Tuscon, Arizona.

In a Facebook statement released on Wednesday evening, the 78-year old multi-Grammy winner said: “Donald Trump is holding a rally on Thursday in a rented hall in my hometown, Tucson. I would prefer to ignore that sad fact. But since the building has my name on it, I need to say something.

“It saddens me to see the former president bring his hate show to Tucson, a town with deep Mexican-American roots and a joyful, tolerant spirit. I don’t just deplore his toxic politics, his hatred of women, immigrants and people of color, his criminality, dishonesty and ignorance – although there’s that,” Ronstadt added.

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She went on to criticize Trump for his border policies, particularly his administration’s family separation policy which “made orphans of thousands of little children and babies, and brutalized their desperate mothers and fathers”.

Ronstadt also called Trump a rapist, saying: “Trump first ran for president warning about rapists coming in from Mexico. I’m worried about keeping the rapist out of the White House.”

E Jean Carroll, a New York writer, alleged Trump raped her in a department store in the city in the 1990s and then defamed her when he denied her claim. A jury last year found Trump liable for the sexual assault.

In addition to Trump, the singer took aim at JD Vance , who has repeatedly criticized people without children as “childish cat ladies”, in addition to being “psychotic” and “deranged”.

“I raised two adopted children in Tucson as a single mom. They are both grown and living in their own houses. I live with a cat,” Ronstadt wrote, adding, “Am I half a childless cat lady because I’m unmarried and didn’t give birth to my kids? Call me what you want, but this cat lady will be voting proudly in November for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz .”

Trump is set to deliver his remarks at 2pm in Tucson and is expected to address the “rising cost of housing”, AZ Family reports .