Former President Donald Trump's latest rally in Durham, New Hampshire has drawn criticism and backlash as he praised multiple authoritarian leaders and quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin to undermine the criminal charges against him. Trump's remarks have sparked outrage, with critics stating that his anti-immigrant sentiment echoes Adolf Hitler.

During the rally, Trump condemned the immigration policies, claiming that immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country" and accused them of pouring into the United States from various regions around the world. He also praised leaders such as Hungary's Viktor Orban, China's Xi Jinping, and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Notably, he labeled President Joe Biden as a "threat to democracy," reversing his previous attacks on Biden.

In an attempt to dismiss the criminal cases pending against him, Trump quoted Putin, asserting that they were "politically motivated." However, prosecutors have refuted this claim and defended the legitimacy of the charges. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 91 charges across four cases in three states and Washington, D.C.

The comments made by Trump at the rally quickly drew the condemnation of both President Biden and Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie. The Biden campaign issued a statement criticizing Trump's rhetoric, accusing him of channelling Adolf Hitler and praising authoritarian leaders while running for president. The campaign spokesperson emphasized that Americans chose Biden's vision of hope and unity over Trump's vision of fear and division in the 2020 election, asserting that they would do the same in the upcoming 2024 election.

Trump's repeated use of the phrase "poisoning the blood" in reference to immigrants has drawn scrutiny from critics, as it is associated with white supremacists and Adolf Hitler, who used similar language in his book "Mein Kampf." Trump also doubled down on these remarks in subsequent social media posts after the rally.

During his presidency, Trump implemented several strict immigration policies, including measures targeting those who entered the country illegally, individuals from certain predominantly Muslim countries, and asylum seekers. These policies attracted significant controversy, particularly when the separation of migrant families occurred as part of prosecutions for illegal border crossings. Activists claim that some families remain separated to this day.

With the possibility of a rematch between Trump and Biden in the 2024 presidential election, Biden has consistently warned of the dangers of a Trump presidency to democracy. Meanwhile, Trump accuses Biden of damaging the country, particularly regarding border issues, and promises to act as a form of retribution for himself and his supporters.

Trump's campaign rhetoric has also drawn attention, with recent comments suggesting that he would not act as a dictator as president, except on "day one." Despite receiving criticism for these remarks, Trump later claimed that he was only joking.

Amidst the backlash, Chris Christie, a former ally-turned-critic of Trump, who is also running in the 2024 race, condemned Trump's speech, denouncing his references to Putin as a character witness. Christie also criticized fellow Republican candidate Nikki Haley for not doing enough to keep Trump out of office.

While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis did not directly comment on Trump's statements, he reiterated his stance on border issues, emphasizing the need for stringent measures to address illegal immigration.

As the 2024 Republican primary approaches, Trump's controversial remarks continue to fuel heated debates and division within the party, raising questions about the future direction of conservative politics in the United States.