Trump tells surrogates to increase criticism of judge, journalists


During a conference call with prominent supporters on Monday, Donald Trump told them to publicly back up remarks he's made against a federal judge's Mexican heritage and to call reporters who ask about it "racist," Bloomberg Politics reports, citing "two supporters who were on the call."
Judge Gonzalo Curiel is presiding over fraud cases involving Trump University, and Trump has said Curiel has a conflict of interest because he is of Mexican ancestry (he was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrant parents) and Trump has proposed building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The sources say Trump told his advocates to question Curiel's credibility, as well as the integrity of reporters. "The people asking the questions — those are the racists," Trump reportedly said. "I would go at 'em." He also reassured the surrogates that "we will overcome. And I've always won and I'm going to continue to win. And that's the way it is."
The sources told Bloomberg Politics that Trump was interrupted at one point by former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), who told Trump that several high-profile backers were sent an email on Sunday by his campaign asking them to stop discussing the Trump University lawsuit. Trump demanded to know who sent the memo, and directed the supporters on the call to "take that order and throw it the hell out." Trump was told the directive came from Erica Freeman, a staffer who sends information to surrogates, and he replied that he didn't know her. "Are there any other stupid letters that were sent to you folks?" he asked. "That's one of the reasons I want to have this call, because you guys are getting sometimes stupid information from people that aren't so smart."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump's press secretary, Hope Hicks, confirmed to Bloomberg Politics that the call took place, and said it was held for Trump to "thank his supporters and congratulate everyone as the primaries officially come to an end. Many topics were discussed and it was a productive call for all parties."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Magazine solutions - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
-
Magazine printables - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - July 4, 2025 / July 11, 2025
-
Controversial GOP plan to sell millions of federal acres hits major roadblock
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Republican Sen. Mike Lee says he'll revisit legislation to sell millions of acres of federally held land to create 'freedom zones' of single family homes
-
Trump plans Iran talks, insists nuke threat gone
Speed Read 'The war is done' and 'we destroyed the nuclear,' said President Trump
-
Trump embraces NATO after budget vow, charm offensive
Speed Read The president reversed course on his longstanding skepticism of the trans-Atlantic military alliance
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders
-
Mamdani upsets Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary
Speed Read Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani beat out Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.