Donald Trump isn't taking fellow Republican Jeb Bush's criticism lying down.
Since the billionaire businessman uttered several deeply offensive remarks about Mexican immigrants, few of his 2016 presidential primary opponents have weighed in on the subsequent controversy. One notable exception? Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Bush, whose wife is from Mexico and whose children are Mexican-American, addressed the issue after a campaign speech in Nevada, notably speaking in Spanish for those directly affected to hear.
“I do not agree with his words,” Bush said in Spanish during a campaign event in Nevada. “They do not represent the values of the Republican Party and they do not represent my values.”
But Trump, who called Mexicans drug dealers and rapists,says Bush is "out of touch with the American people."
"Today, Jeb Bush once again proves that he is out of touch with the American people. ... he doesn't understand anything about the border or border security. In fact, Jeb believes illegal immigrants who break our laws when they cross our border come 'out of love,'" Trump said in a statement. "As everybody knows," he continued, "I never said that all Mexicans crossing the border are rapists. Jeb is mischaracterizing my statements only to inflame."
Worse, Trump said, Bush is weak on border security, trade, the military and veteran care. "Jeb will never be able to secure our border, negotiate good trade deals, strengthen our military or care for our veterans. The biggest difference between Jeb and me on the border is that I believe in securing our border by building a wall, which will protect our safety, economy and national security. This is a vital to step in Make America Great Again!"
Trump's brash rhetoric hasn’t hurt him at the polls, however. The latest Suffolk poll showed Trump in second place in New Hampshire, behind formerBush. The survey drew skepticism, but just a day later, a Fox News poll also showed Trump second among Republican primary voters nationwide, with Bush in the lead and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson a close third.