Hillary Clinton issued veiled criticism of her former rival, President Trump, by emphasizing her appreciation for America’s immigrants during a ceremony Thursday honoring Oscar de la Renta.
The failed Democratic presidential candidate spoke at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan during the U.S. Postal Service’s ceremony dedicating a series of 11 stamps to de la Renta, a renowned Dominican-American fashion designer who died in 2014.
“Oscar de la Renta was an immigrant … and aren’t we proud and grateful that he was,” she said to loud applause, the New York Post reported.
Mrs. Clinton did not mention Mr. Trump by name but gave subtle criticism of the Republican president’s immigration policies and his grasp on the U.S. Constitution.
“He knew what they were hoping for,” she said of de la Renta, the Post reported. “He gave of his heart and his soul to make sure that his example would live on. What a fitting person to be chosen by our Postal Service — mentioned by the way in the Constitution — something we should all read and re-read in today’s times.
“It’s [the] choice of this immigrant who did so much for our country, his country, truly is what it means when we say ’USA forever,’” she said. “Who we are, what we stand for and let there be many, many more immigrants with the love of America that Oscar de la Renta exemplified every single day.”
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined Mrs. Clinton at Thursday’s ceremony, also praised de la Renta as a proud Dominican immigrant.
“Our country is great because we welcome people from around the world. They come here to work hard and build a better future for their families, no matter where they come from,” the Democrat said, The Associated Press reported.
Their comments came the same day that legal and illegal immigrants engaged in a nationwide strike, called “A Day Without Immigrants,” to demonstrate their contributions to the country.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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