ARIZONA, United States. Donald Trump has courted controversy once again, this time at a rally in Arizona where he laid out his views on immigration, foreign policy and how he plans to be friends with Vladimir Putin.
Addressing the 20,000-strong crowd, the Republican presidential candidate flipped between hitting out at Mexico for “killing us (the US) at the border” and professing his respect for the Mexican people.
“I respect Mexico greatly as a country, but the problem we have is that their leaders are much smarter, sharper, and more cunning than our leaders, and they’re killing us at the border and they’re killing us in trade. They’re killing us,” Mr Trump said.
The 69-year-old property mogul also repeated his charge that Mexico was sending violent offenders to the US.
“These people wreak havoc on our population,” he said.
His remarks come just weeks after Trump attracted widespread criticism for labelling Mexican migrants as drug-runners and rapists.
The department store Macy’s has since severed ties with Trump.
Univision and NBC have also distanced themselves from him.
His latest remarks prompted a brief scuffle between supporters and protesters in the crowd.
Referring to the protesters, Mr Trump quipped: “I wonder if the Mexican government sent them over here. I think so.”
Mr Trump, who is leading in the early Republican polls, also hit out at US relations with Russia.
“For 20 years I’ve heard, the worst thing that could happen would be if Russia and China start uniting,” he said.
“We’ve united them, because we did things that were very onerous because Obama doesn’t like Putin, and Putin doesn’t respect or like Obama.
“Now I am more for the military and I am the most militaristic person in this room,” he added.
“I would have a military that is so strong, that we would never have to use it, because people would say no way we’re messing with them. No way we’re messing with them.
“And I’d get along with Putin, and I’d get along with China.”
Credit: Sky News
