Donald Trump condemned for releasing racist ad reminiscent of infamous 'Willie Horton' ad

Donald Trump has been condemned for releasing racist ad reminiscent of infamous "Willie Horton" ad. Photo / AP

In what has been described as the most racially charged national political ad in three decades, US President Donald Trump has shared a video likening illegal immigrants to a convicted killer and inferring Democrats are responsible for allowing dangerous criminals into the US.

In the tweet, which is now pinned to the top of his social media feed for his millions of followers to see, it shows a clip of Luis Bracamontes, a twice-deported immigrant from Mexico, smiling menacingly in court and expressing no remorse for his crimes.

Bracamontes was sentenced to death in California for killing two police officers in 2014.

The captioned reads: "Illegal immigrant, Luis Bracamontes, killed our people!" It adds: "Democrats let him into our country … Democrats let him stay."

Trump provides no evidence linking Democrats to Bracamontes.

It is outrageous what the Democrats are doing to our Country. Vote Republican now! https://t.co/0pWiwCHGbh pic.twitter.com/2crea9HF7G

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018

The clip goes on to include scenes of a migrant "caravan", warning "Who else would Democrats let in?" and claiming "President Donald J. Trump and Republicans are making America safe again!"

As of Thursday night, the ad had been viewed more than 2.2 million times, drawing widespread condemnation.

Trump, and his right-wing Republican base, have been criticised for being "racist", "hateful", "shameless", and for "fearmongering" ahead of the midterm elections in five days time, which will determine whether the GOP retains control of Congress.

"The President of the United States is working to shift the national conversation back to his base's most impassioned talking point ahead of the midterms … immigration," Fox40 news reporter Pedro Rivera tweeted.

"In this ad, essentially comparing the migrant caravan to Cop Killer Luis Bracamontes."

To no surprise, The President of the United States is working to shift the national conversation back to his base’s most impassioned talking point ahead of the midterms...immigration. In this ad, essentially comparing the migrant caravan to Cop Killer Luis Bracamontes. #Trump https://t.co/TdnfXT1z2d

— Pedro Rivera (@PedroRiveraTV) November 1, 2018

Response of @JeffFlake to this new Trump ad: “This is just a new low in campaigning. It’s sickening.” https://t.co/f6oyjId6O7

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 31, 2018

The video is eerily reminiscent of the infamous 1988 "Willie Horton" ad used by supporters of the George HW Bush campaign against Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis and condemned as racist.

Horton was a convicted murderer who committed rape and assault while on a weekend furlough program in 1987 in Massachusetts, which Dukakis supported as the governor of Massachusetts.

The impact of the ad was described as "devastating to Dukakis" but then it later became widely regarded as the most racially problematic political campaign ad ever, as it was designed to appeal to white voters by playing on their stereotyped fears of African-Americans as criminals.

Thirty years ago, George H.W. Bush released his infamous fear-mongering, racist ad on Willie Horton.

This Trump ad is worse. Far worse. https://t.co/jLFbhU8FLs

— Eric Umansky (@ericuman) November 1, 2018

Now, scarily, Trump's attack ad has been slammed as being even worse. Unlike the 1998 "Willie Horton" ad, which was financed and run by the National Security Political Action Committee (NSPAC) as supporters of the Bush campaign and not as a part of the official campaign, Trump's Bracamontes ad bears the official endorsement of the leader of the Republican Party.

"Thirty years ago, George H.W. Bush released his infamous fearmongering, racist ad on Willie Horton," Eric Umansky, deputy managing editor of ProPublica, a US non-profit newsroom, tweeted.

"This Trump ad is worse. Far worse."