Donald Trump

Press TV
June 6, 2016

Presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has defended his racist remarks about a judge with Mexican heritage overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University, saying a Muslim judge might be biased against him as well.

Trump said in a CNN interview last week that US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, the son of Mexican immigrants, was biased against him in lawsuits involving fraud allegations against Trump University, the billionaire’s real estate training school.

Trump claimed that the judge’s Mexican heritage had influenced his opinion because of the presumptive nominee’s plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border after winning the presidential elections.

“He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall between here and Mexico. The answer is, he is giving us very unfair rulings, rulings that people can’t even believe. This case should have ended years ago on summary judgment,” Trump said, dismissing charges that his comments were racist.

The judge ordered parts of unsealed documents to be released as part of the lawsuit against the university.

Asked on Sunday whether a Muslim judge would also treat him unfairly due to his anti-Muslim remarks, Trump said “It’s possible, yes. That would be possible, absolutely.”

John Kasich, a former rival for Trump, criticized the real estate mogul’s remarks, saying, “Attacking judges based on their race and/or religion is another tactic that divides our country. More importantly, it is flat out wrong.”

Kasich said on his Twitter account that Trump should apologize to Judge Curiel and “try to unite his country.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also said he could not disagree more with Trump.

“I am concerned about the Hispanic vote, America is changing. I think it’s a big mistake for our party to write off Latino Americans. I am concerned about that and I hope he will change his direction on that,” he also said.

Former House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is being considered as a possible running mate to Trump, said Trump’s comments were “inexcusable.”

“This is one of the worst mistakes Trump has made,” Gingrich said.