Trump, reciting songs and praising cannibals, draws yawns and raises eyebrows

Former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak during a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, on May 11, 2024. – Trump indicated Saturday that he is not considering his former Republican rival Nikki Haley for vice president. The 77-year-old real estate tycoon, who hopes to return to the White House, has everyone guessing about whom he will pick as his running mate in the November vote. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

Former US president Donald Trump raised eyebrows among his no-nonsense New Jersey crowd at a rally Saturday when he recited a 1963 soul song in its entirety and referenced a fictional cannibal as “great.”

In a meandering recitation of “The Snake” during a more than 90 minute speech, Trump used the Oscar Brown song to draw a parallel with “illegal immigration and how stupid it is what we’re doing right now.”

“We’re letting people come into our country that we will only be trouble,” said the Republican contender for president.

Trump has drawn on the song several times to highlight his anti-migrant stance, reportedly drawing objections from Brown’s family.

“A tenderhearted woman saw a poor, half-frozen snake,” Trump said, reciting — but not singing — the song to the crowd.

“But instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite.”

Trump, who will face Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s polls, is using increasingly violent rhetoric around the country’s migrant crisis.

At the same time, the lengthy recitation of “The Snake” drew a subdued reaction from the crowd of thousands gathered on a beach in Wildwood on the New Jersey shore.

Some looked on quizzically, while a man behind Trump shown on a big screen yawned, and a trickle of spectators made for the exits.

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