Donald Trump supporter Newt Gingrich slammed the presumptive Republican nominee Sunday for making racially charged comments about the judge presiding over civil fraud lawsuits against Trump University.
During an interview on Fox News Sundy, the former Speaker of the House said Trump’s remarks criticizing Judge Gonzalo Curiel was one of the worst mistakes he has made.
"One of the things that Trump did this week was repeatedly accuse the judge who is handling two Trump University fraud lawsuit cases of bias," host Chris Wallace said.
Wallace played a clip of Trump making the accusation against Judge Curiel in an interview Friday with CNN's Jake Tapper that his Mexican background made him biased against Trump.
"We're building a wall. He is 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," Trump said.
"Are you comfortable with a potential president attacking a federal judge for his heritage?" Wallace asked.
Gingrich, who has been looked at as a potential Trump running mate, responded by saying his comments were "inexcusable."
"No. This is one of the worst mistakes Trump has made. I think it's inexcusable," Gingrich said. "He has every right to criticize a judge, and he has every right to say certain decisions aren't right, and his attorneys can file to move the venue from the judge. First of all, this judge was born in Indiana. He is an American, period. When you come to America, you get to become an American, and Trump, who has grandparents who came to the U.S., should understand this as much as anybody."
Gingrich then ripped Trump for not acting like a potential leader of the United States, saying the primary season was over.
"If a liberal were to attack Justice Clarence Thomas on the grounds that he's black, we would all go crazy," Gingrich said. "Every conservative would say it was wrong and it was racism. Trump has got to, I think, move to a new level. This is no longer the primaries. He's no longer an interesting contender. He is now the potential leader of the United States and he's got to move his game up to the level of being a potential leader."