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Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl backs Donald Trump over ICE controversy and Israel-Iran war
College basketball coach Bruce Pearl has backed Donald Trump over his illegal immigration crackdown, insisting that the president is 'making America safe again.'
On Tuesday, the White House shared data claiming that zero illegal immigrants were released into the United States in May. That figure was more than 62,000 a year ago under the Biden administration, the White House said.
And Auburn coach Pearl, who has been an outspoken supporter of Trump, was thrilled to see how Trump is handling the country's border security.
'We didn't need new laws, we just needed a president that would enforce the ones we already had! President @realDonaldTrump is making America safe again!,' he wrote on X.
Pearl, who previously slammed Kamala Harris for her ' woke progressive beliefs,' expressed his support for legal immigration in November after Trump had won a second term in office.
'President Trump won big because more Americans believed he will fix Inflation, secure our border, support legal immigration, bring peace to the world through strength and put America first,' he said on X.
The White House claimed that zero illegal immigrants were released into the US in May
'I pray and I believe he will work for all Americans, uniting us as one nation under God!'
Pearl's latest remarks on immigration came as he also praised Trump's 'instincts' in regards to the Israel-Iran conflict.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump didn't rule out US military intervention as missile attacks continue in both countries.
Nonetheless, Pearl trusts that Trump will make the right decision as he mulls deploying US forces to take out Iran's Fordow nuclear facility.
'He's got incredible instincts, like instincts that I think historically will be down as one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world,' Pearl said on Dont @ Me with Dan Dakich.
'That's a strong statement… I think the vast majority of it is incredibly calculated. Every now and then, it may be a little bit off the cuff, but I trust him.'
Pearl also said that the world was 'about to become a safer place' with ' a non-nuclear Iran', and gushed about Trump's handling of the Middle East.
'If the Middle East gets safer and stronger, look at what dynamic country Israel is. Look at all the unicorns that are there. Look at all the high tech and development. Look at all the wealth,' he said.
'If you began to spread that to some of these other Middle Eastern countries, who are they going to partner with? The United States, Russia, China? It's going to be the U.S. because Donald Trump has led the way to create peace and prosperity for everybody in the region.'
Pearl, who is Jewish, has especially outspoken in his support of Israel since the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas in 2023.
Following his team's win over Creighton in March Madness, he campaigned for the return of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, who was ultimately held in captivity for 584 days before his release in May.
Trump, however, received a frostier reception from different sports figures on Wednesday as he hosted select Juventus players in the Oval Office.
Several players - including Americans Timothy Weah and Weston McKennie - visited the president ahead of their Club World Cup clash in DC, but Trump seemingly baffled them as he spoke about trans athletes and the Israel-Iran situation with them in the room.
'It was all a surprise to me, honestly - they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,' Weah said after Juventus' 5-0 win later that night.
'I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football man.'
