Trump doubles down on judge attacks: ‘He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall’

Donald Trump on Friday stood by his claim that a federal judge should recuse himself from hearing lawsuits against Trump University because of his Hispanic heritage.

 

{mosads}During an interview on CNN, host Jake Tapper pressed the presumptive GOP presidential nominee about why Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s ethnicity should disqualify him from hearing the case. Trump pointed to his plan to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

 

“I think I’m going to do very well with Hispanics, but we’re building a wall. He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall between here and Mexico,” Trump said. “The answer is, he is giving us very unfair rulings, rulings that people can’t even believe. This case should have ended years ago.”

 

Trump said Curiel, who was born in Indiana to parents from Mexico, is treating him unfairly in the lawsuits that claim his defunct real estate education programs were fraudulent. 

 

When Tapper asked what Curiel’s ethnicity has to do with his ability to handle the case, the business tycoon responded: “I think that’s why he’s doing it.” 

 

“Hillary Clinton is a stiff,” Trump added when Tapper mentioned the Democratic front-runner’s portrayal of Trump’s arguments as racist. He also said Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who condemned Trump’s attacks on the judge, doesn’t know the case. 

 

“He’s of Mexican heritage, and he’s very proud of it — as I am where I come from,” Trump said.