Trump triples down on attack on judge’s ethnicity
Pressed by CNN’s Jake Tapper, Trump repeated his claim that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s Mexican heritage creates “an inherent conflict of interest.”
Story Continued Below“Jake, I’m building a wall. OK? I’m building a wall. I’m trying to keep business out of Mexico. Mexico’s fine,” Trump said.
“But he’s an American,” Tapper responded.
“He’s of Mexican heritage,” Trump said. “And he’s very proud of it, as I am of where I come from.”
“But he’s an American,” Tapper reiterated. “You keep talking about it’s a conflict of interest because of Mexico.”
Later in the extended back-and-forth on the issue, the CNN host asked Trump whether his assertion that Curiel’s heritage makes him unable to do his job is “the definition of racism.” Trump said it was not.