House Speaker Paul Ryan rebuked Donald Trump due to his racial attacks on the federal judge presiding over the class action lawsuit against Trump University, which was accused of defrauding students.
The Republican presumptive nominee repeatedly stated in interviews with the Wall Street Journal and CNN that U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel had an “absolute conflict” in the litigation because of his “Mexican heritage.” Judge Curiel was born in the United States to Mexican-American immigrants.
Ryan said Trump’s attack on Judge Curiel was “out of the left field” and he doesn’t relate to his reasoning. He said, “I completely disagree with the thinking behind that.
Furthermore, the House Speaker warned that he would contradict Trump whenever it is necessary. “He clearly says and does things I don’t agree with and I’ve had to speak up from time to time when that has occurred and I’ll continue to do that if that’s necessary — I hope it’s not.”
Ryan denounced Trump a day after he endorsed the Republican presumptive nominee. He decided to support the Republican presumptive nominee despite their differences because they have more common ground than disagreements. He also emphasized that they need a Republican president to sign into law the party’s policy proposals.
Trump’s attack on Judge Curiel
Trump believes that Judge Curiel is biased against him because of his position on immigration. According to him, “I’m building a wall. It’s an inherent conflict of interest.”
The Republican presumptive nominee also suggested the Judge Curiel was a former colleague and friend of one of the lawyers of the complainants in the case.
Separately, Trump described the judge as “a hater of Donald Trump” during a political rally in San Diego. He added, “They ought to look into Judge Curiel.”
“Big mistake to write off Latino Americans
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he couldn’t disagree more with the statement of the Republican presumptive nominee against Judge Curiel. He also expressed concern for the Republican Party when it comes to the votes of Hispanics. According to him, “It’s a big mistake for the party to write off Latino Americans. They’re an important part of our country.”
McConnell is hoping for Trump to change his direction on the matter. He added that it’s time for the Republican presumptive nominee to unify the party.
Clinton campaign says Trump unfit to be president
In a statement, Hillary Clinton’s campaign reiterated that Trump is unfit to become president of the United States. Trump
“The fact that Donald Trump doesn’t see Judge Curiel and his family as Americans makes him unfit to be president of this great nation, a nation of immigrants,” said Lorella Praeli, director of Latino outreach for the Clinton campaign.
Praeli noted that Judge Curiel and his family represent the American Dream. According to her, “His parents worked hard to give their US-born children a better life. He and his brother became successful lawyers. His other brother served in Vietnam. In Trump’s version of America, this Latino family isn’t really America, but they are America. Hillary Clinton will fight for ALL Americans.”
