Today on The Lead with Jake Tapper, presumptive Republican nominee, Donald J. Trump, joined the program, to discuss Hillary Clinton’s attacks, invoking a judge’s Mexican heritage and more.
**The full interview will air on State of the Union with Jake Tapper, this Sunday 06/05/2016**
Please see below for a full rushed transcript.
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VIDEO:
Donald Trump hits back at Clinton’s ‘thin skin’ comment
Donald Trump rails against judge’s ‘Mexican heritage’
CNN Story:
Trump defends criticism of judge with Mexican heritage
Text Highlights
Trump on Clinton’s “thin skin” comment: Well, first of all, I don’t have thin skin, I have very, very strong, very thick skin. And when somebody is right about me, I always — you know, if you do a report and it’s not necessarily positive but you’re right, I never complain. I do complain when it’s a lie or when it’s wrong. But I have a strong temperament and it’s a very good temperament and it’s a very in control temperament or I wouldn’t have built this unbelievable company, I wouldn’t have built all of the things that I’ve been able to do in life. I mean, number one best-sellers, one of the best-selling books of all time, tremendous television success…[TAPPER] I don’t think anyone is… [TRUMP] I’ve been successful. Well, wait a minute, Jake. I’ve been successful in every business I’ve been in, if you think, real estate one of the most successful. Uh, television, “The Apprentice,” which is, forget it. I mean NBC came to me. They wanted to renew so badly you have no idea. [TAPPER] But what does that have to do with temperament?…… [TRUMP] Oh, you can’t have that success without good temperament. And I will say this. I was thinking about the word temperament. And we need a strong temperament in this country. We have been led by weak people, weak ineffective people. Countries have taken advantage of us, whether it’s militarily or otherwise. We have been taken advantage of by everybody. We have people with weak temperaments. I have a very strong temperament. But I have a temperament that’s totally under control. And, you know, you — she — she mentions that I’ll bring us into war. She’s the one that wanted to go into Iraq. I mean she raised her hand. She didn’t know what the hell she was doing. She raised her hand. I said, I don’t want to go into Iraq, Iraq is going to destabilize the Middle East and I was 100 percent right.
Trump responds to criticism of judge with Mexican heritage “….[TRUMP] Do you know that these people went to every attorney general, practically, in the country that they could and do you know this case was turned down by almost every attorney general, from Texas to Florida to many of these states? [TAPPER] Is it not, when Hillary Clinton says this is a racist attack and you reject that, if you are saying he can’t do his job because of his race, is that not the definition of racism? [TRUMP] No, I don’t think so at all. [TAPPER] No? [TRUMP] No. He’s proud of his heritage. I — I respect him for that. [TAPPER] But you’re saying he can’t do his job because of that. [TRUMP] Look, he’s proud of his heritage, OK. I’m building a wall. Now, I think I’m going to do very well with Hispanics. [TAPPER] He’s a legal citizen… [TRUMP] You know why I’m going to do well with Hispanics? Because I’m going to bring back jobs and they’re going to get jobs right now. They’re going to get jobs. 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. 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. The best lawyers — I have spoken to so many lawyers, they said this is not a case, this is a case that should have ended. [TAPPER] I have… [TRUMP] This judge is giving us unfair rulings. Now I say why? Well, I want to — I’m building a wall, OK, and it’s a wall between Mexico, not another country…”
FULL TRANSCRIPT:
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Before Donald Trump jumped on that impressive jet to Redding, California, he sat down with me and he was quick to launch attacks at the Democratic frontrunner.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TAPPER: Hillary Clinton was giving a speech. She had some very tough things to say about you.
One of the things she said…
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She wasn’t giving it, she was reading a speech that was written by other people, OK?
But go ahead.
TAPPER: OK.
TRUMP: Sound bites…
TAPPER: One of the things…
TRUMP: — she (INAUDIBLE)…
TAPPER: — one of the things she said was, “This is not someone who should have the nuclear codes. It’s not hard to imagine Donald Trump leading us into war because someone got under his very thin skin.”
what’s your response to that?
TRUMP: Well, first of all, I don’t have thin skin, I have very, very strong, very thick skin. And when somebody is right about me, I always — you know, if you do a report and it’s not necessarily positive but you’re right, I never complain.
I do complain when it’s a lie or when it’s wrong. But I have a strong temperament and it’s a very good temperament and it’s a very in control temperament or I wouldn’t have built this unbelievable company, I wouldn’t have built all of the things that I’ve been able to do in life.
I mean, number one best-sellers, one of the best-selling books of all time, tremendous television success…
TAPPER: I don’t think anyone is…
TRUMP: I’ve been successful.
Well, wait a minute, Jake.
I’ve been successful in every business I’ve been in, if you think, real estate one of the most successful. Uh, television, “The Apprentice,” which is, forget it. I mean NBC came to me. They wanted to renew so badly you have no idea.
TAPPER: But what does that have to do with temperament?
TRUMP: (INAUDIBLE)…
TAPPER: You’re very successful.
TRUMP: Oh, it has a lot to do. You can’t…
TAPPER: There’s no question.
TRUMP: Oh, you can’t have that success without good temperament.
And I will say this. I was thinking about the word temperament. And we need a strong temperament in this country. We have been led by weak people, weak ineffective people. Countries have taken advantage of us, whether it’s militarily or otherwise. We have been taken advantage of by everybody. We have people with weak temperaments.
I have a very strong temperament. But I have a temperament that’s totally under control. And, you know, you — she — she mentions that I’ll bring us into war. She’s the one that wanted to go into Iraq. I mean she raised her hand. She didn’t know what the hell she was doing. She raised her hand.
I said, I don’t want to go into Iraq, Iraq is going to destabilize the Middle East and I was 100 percent right.
TAPPER: I want to ask you about comments you made about the judge…
TRUMP: Sure.
TAPPER: — in the Trump University case.
TRUMP: Sure.
TAPPER: You said that you thought it was a conflict of interest that he was the judge because he’s of Mexican heritage, even though he’s from Indiana.
TRUMP: (INAUDIBLE).
TAPPER: Hillary Clinton said that that is a racist attack on a federal judge.
TRUMP: Oh, you know, she’s so wonderful. You know, I mean here’s a woman that should be put in jail for what she did with her emails and she’s commenting on this.
TAPPER: But what about (INAUDIBLE)…
TRUMP: Let me just tell you…
TAPPER: (INAUDIBLE).
TRUMP: — let me just tell you (INAUDIBLE).
I have a case where thousands of people have taken this course and thousands and thousands of people have said great reviews, great reviews. Fortunately, just about everybody that took the courses have signed a review, an evaluation, they call it.
And it’s gotten tremendous marks. Thousands — I don’t mean like two people, I mean thousands of people.
TAPPER: Right.
TRUMP: OK. I have a situation where the woman that brought the case brought the case. She’s the plaintiff. She was deposed. She was found to be a disaster for them as a witness, because she gave an evaluation that was like the best evaluation you’ve even heard — wait just one second.
TAPPER: OK.
TRUMP: And she did a tape like from your camera saying that this school was fantastic. It was fantastic.
They went to the judge and they said, your honor, we don’t want her anymore to be our plaintiff so we said let’s dismiss the case. That’s OK. Let’s dismiss the case.
And he said, no, I won’t dismiss the case and she doesn’t have to be the plaintiff
TAPPER: But what —
TRUMP: Let me tell you…
TAPPER: — does that have to do with his heritage?
TRUMP: I’ll tell you what it has to do. I have had ruling after ruling after ruling that’s been bad rulings, OK?
I’ve been treated very unfairly. Beforehand, we had another judge. If that judge was still there, this case would have been over two years ago.
Let me just tell you, I have had horrible rules. I’ve been treated very unfairly by this judge. Now, this judge is of Mexican heritage. I’m building a wall, OK?
I’m building a wall. I am going to do very well with the Hispanics, the Mexicans (INAUDIBLE)…
TAPPER: So no Mexican judge could ever be involved in a case…
TRUMP: Well?
TAPPER: — that involves you?
TRUMP: No, he’s a member of a society where, you know, very pro-Mexico and that’s fine. It’s all fine. But I think…
TAPPER: Except that you’re calling into question…
TRUMP: — I think he should…
TAPPER: — his heritage.
TRUMP: — recuse himself…
TAPPER: Because he’s Latino?
TRUMP: — then you also say does he know the lawyer on the other side?
I mean does he know the lawyer, the, you know, a lot of people say yes. I don’t know.
TAPPER: But I’m not talking about that.
TRUMP: Well, no, that’s another…
TAPPER: I’m talking about the…
TRUMP: — that’s another problem.
TAPPER: But you’re invoking his race when talking about whether or not…
TRUMP: Here’s what I’m (INAUDIBLE)…
TAPPER: — he can do his job.
TRUMP: Jake, I’m building a wall, OK?
I’m building a wall. I’m trying to keep business out of Mexico. Mexico is fine. There’s nothing…
TAPPER: But he’s American. He’s an American.
TRUMP: — the Mexican — he’s of Mexican heritage and he’s very proud of it, as I am where I come from, my parents.
TAPPER: But he’s an American. You keep talking about…
TRUMP: Jake…
TAPPER: — it’s a conflict of interest…
TRUMP: — Jake, Jake…
TAPPER: — because of Mexico.
TRUMP: Are you ready?
I have a case that should have been dismissed already. I have thousands of people saying Trump University is fantastic, OK?
I have a case that should have been dismissed. I have a judge that never ever gives a (INAUDIBLE). Now, we lose the plaintiff he lets the plaintiff of the case out.
So why isn’t he canceling the case?
So we thought we won the case.
TAPPER: So you disagree with his rulings…
TRUMP: No, no.
TAPPER: — I totally understand that.
TRUMP: No. Not me.
TAPPER: But you’re sa…
TRUMP: I’ve had lawyers come up to me and say you are being treated so unfairly, it’s unbelievable.
TAPPER: Isn’t…
TRUMP: You know the plaintiffs in the case have all said wonderful things about the school and they’re suing.
You know why they’re suing?
Because they want to get their money back.
TAPPER: I don’t really want to litigate the case…
TRUMP: You have to…
TAPPER: — of Trump University…
TRUMP: — because if he was…
TAPPER: What a…
TRUMP: — was giving me fair rulings, I wouldn’t say that.
TAPPER: My question is…
TRUMP: But, Jake…
TAPPER: Yes?
TRUMP: — if you were giving me fair rulings, I wouldn’t be talking to this way. He’s giving me horrible rulings…
TAPPER: But I don’t care if you criticize him. That’s fine. You can criticize every decision. What I’m saying is if you invoke his race as a reason why he can’t do his job…
TRUMP: I think that’s why he’s doing it. But…
TAPPER: (INAUDIBLE).
TRUMP: I think that’s why he’s doing it.
TAPPER: When Hillary Clinton says it’s a racist attack…
TRUMP: Hillary — Hillary Clinton is a stiff. If Hillary Clinton becomes president…
TAPPER: But Paul Ryan today…
TRUMP: — I mean…
TAPPER: — Paul Ryan today said he — he didn’t care for the way that you were attacking this judge.
TRUMP: Look, I’m just telling you. Paul Ryan doesn’t know the case. Here’s the story.
TAPPER: Isn’t it the definite…
TRUMP: I should have won this case on summary judgment. This is not a case — this is a case I should have won on summary judgment. Do you know the law firm paid Hillary Clinton hundreds of thousands of dollars to make speeches?
Do you know the law firm has…
TAPPER: I do. And we’ve reported it.
TRUMP: Oh, you do?
TAPPER: We’ve re— we’ve reported it on my show.
TRUMP: OK.
TAPPER: In fact.
TRUMP: OK, good. Well, I’m glad. You’re the only one. The law firm…
TAPPER: (INAUDIBLE)…
TRUMP: Wait a minute. The law firm paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hillary Clinton for speeches.
TAPPER: Before either of you were president — were running for president…
TRUMP: She wasn’t working. Everybody fell asleep during the speech.
TAPPER: Before either of you were running for president, they did.
But here’s the — just the fundamental question.
TRUMP: Do you know that they’ve contributed tremendous amounts of money to her campaign?
TAPPER: Yes.
TRUMP: Do you know they’ve contributed a lot of money to Eric Schneiderman, the New York attorney general?
TAPPER: Here is my question.
TRUMP: No, no, do you know that?
TAPPER: I did not know that.
TRUMP: Do you know that these people went to every attorney general, practically, in the country that they could and do you know this case was turned down by almost every attorney general, from Texas to Florida to many of these states?
TAPPER: Is it not, when Hillary Clinton says this is a racist attack and you reject that, if you are saying he can’t do his job because of his race, is that not the definition of racism?
TRUMP: No, I don’t think so at all.
TAPPER: No?
TRUMP: No. He’s proud of his heritage. I — I respect him for that.
TAPPER: But you’re saying he can’t do his job because of that.
TRUMP: Look, he’s proud of his heritage, OK. I’m building a wall. Now, I think I’m going to do very well with Hispanics.
TAPPER: He’s a legal citizen…
TRUMP: You know why I’m going to do well with Hispanics?
Because I’m going to bring back jobs and they’re going to get jobs right now. They’re going to get jobs. 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. 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. The best lawyers — I have spoken to so many lawyers, they said this is not a case, this is a case that should have ended.
TAPPER: I have…
TRUMP: This judge is giving us unfair rulings.
Now I say why?
Well, I want to — I’m building a wall, OK, and it’s a wall between Mexico, not another country…
TAPPER: But he’s not…
TRUMP: — (INAUDIBLE).
TAPPER: — he’s not from Mexico.
TRUMP: In my opinion…
TAPPER: He’s for Indiana.
TRUMP: — he is — his Mexican heritage. And he’s very proud of it.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
TAPPER: You can see my entire interview with Donald Trump this weekend on “STATE OF THE UNION.”
That was just a taste for you.
“STATE OF THE UNION.”
That’s Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Eastern and again at noon.
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