By Bronte Price, PoliticKING
CNN’s Jake Tapper questioned Trump on Friday about his comments regarding an American Judge of Mexican heritage. The presumptive nominee has said the judge is unfit to hear a case against Trump University based on the fact that he is, “Mexican.”
Trump said in a recent interview that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had “an absolute conflict” in presiding over the case since he was “of Mexican heritage” and is a member of a Latino lawyers’ association. “I’m building a wall. It’s an inherent conflict of interest,” Trump added.
‘‘Let me ask you about comments you made about the judge in the Trump University case.” Tapper said in the Friday interview. “You said that you thought it was a conflict of interest that he was the judge because he is of Mexican heritage, even though he is from Indiana. Hillary Clinton said that that is a racist attack on a federal judge.’’
Tapper didn’t have a chance to finish the question as Trump interjected to talk about Clinton’s emails.
CNN host Jake Tapper asked Trump 23 times to commit to an answer https://t.co/qAX83Wwpmspic.twitter.com/9jB3TGkgkQ
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) June 6, 2016
Tapper tried once again to discuss whether or not Trump’s complaint about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel was racist, however Trump deflected. Tapper tried again and again, eventually attempting to discuss the topic 23 times. “I’m building a wall,” Trump repeated a few times, adding, “he’s of Mexican heritage.”
Eventually, Trump gave him a straight answer. ‘‘If you are saying he cannot do his job because of his race, is that not the definition of racism?’’ Tapper asked.
‘‘No, I don’t think so at all,’’ Trump responded.
“But he’s not from Mexico,” Tapper added. “He’s from Indiana.”
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