Former President Donald Trump responded swiftly and sharply to the Molotov cocktail attack in Boulder, Colorado, placing the blame squarely on President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. In a Truth Social post published Monday, Trump tied the violence directly to what he termed Biden’s “Open Border Policy,” warning that incidents like this will continue unless the U.S. radically tightens its immigration controls.
“He came in through Biden’s ridiculous Open Border Policy, which has hurt our Country so badly,” Trump wrote. “He must go out under ‘TRUMP’ Policy.”
The attacker, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is an Egyptian national who entered the United States legally but remained after his visa expired. Authorities say he used a homemade flamethrower to target a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, injuring eight people aged 52 to 88. At least one victim remains in critical condition. According to witnesses, Soliman shouted “Free Palestine!” as he launched the assault.
Trump called the act one of terrorism and vowed that under his leadership, such individuals would face the “fullest extent of the Law” and be deported immediately. His comments drew a clear distinction between his former administration’s immigration enforcement and what he described as Biden’s “lax and dangerous” policies.
.@PressSec: "This administration has already done so much to ensure that we are deporting individuals who seek to do harm in our country... I would remind anyone here who is on a visa like this individual in Boulder... it is a privilege, not a right to enter the United States." pic.twitter.com/eAiJ6NZxKD
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 2, 2025
The Boulder attack followed another antisemitic assault just a week earlier. Elias Rodriguez, another suspect motivated by pro-Palestinian rhetoric, allegedly opened fire outside the Capital Jewish Museum, killing two young staffers from the Israeli Embassy. He too reportedly shouted, “Free, free Palestine!”
Together, the two incidents are sparking renewed scrutiny on immigration enforcement and national security, with both Trump and current officials weighing in.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Soliman’s attack a “despicable act,” affirming the administration’s commitment to removing dangerous individuals from the country.
“It is a privilege, not a right to enter the United States,” Leavitt said on Fox News. “This administration has already done so much to ensure that we are deporting individuals who seek to do harm in our country.”
Yet for critics, these words ring hollow in the face of mounting violent acts tied to ideological extremism and immigration lapses. Soliman’s continued presence in the U.S. despite overstaying his visa raises difficult questions about visa enforcement, federal-local cooperation, and the consequences of sanctuary policies.