Huckabee: Donald Trump Made 'A Severe Error' In Mexican Immigrant Comments

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Sunday became the latest 2016 Republican presidential hopeful to distance himself from billionaire Donald Trump, following controversial comments Trump made about Mexican immigrants. "I think he made a severe error in saying what he did about Mexican-Americans, and it is unfortunate," Huckabee told CNN's "State of the Union." Trump has been the target of criticism from across the political spectrum ever since he characterized Mexican immigrants as "rapists" who bring "drugs and crime" into the United States during a speech last month announcing that he would run for president in 2016. In the aftermath of the comments, major corporate partners of Trump's enterprises, like Univision and NBC, have cut ties with the real estate mogul and reality TV star. But some GOP candidates have stood by Trump, notably Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who called Trump "terrific" and told NBC, 'I salute Donald Trump for focusing on the need to address illegal immigration." Other GOP candidates have stayed silent on Trump, neither denouncing him nor endorsing his views. But as a groundswell of opposition to Trump and his candidacy grows, more 2016 hopefuls, like Huckabee, are pushing back against Trump's divisive rhetoric. Huckabee went on to say that Latin American immigrants are "some of the hardest-working people ' and some of the most conservative, family-oriented and faith-based people I've ever witnessed." "Are there some people who come with nefarious goals'" he continued. "Yes, that's why we need to secure the border ' But I would never besmirch all the people who come here." The latest polling averages show Huckabee in seventh place in the crowded Republican primary field, with 7.3 percent of the vote. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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