Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) slammed President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE in a new interview, calling Trump’s recent alleged “shithole countries” remark “racist” and warning Republicans about Trump’s potential impact on the 2018 midterm elections.

“When you call Haiti, whether it’s a ’s-house’ or an ’s-hole’ … you disparage a lot of people that love this country that are here making a contribution and making a difference,” Bush said in an interview with USA Today. “It’s very frustrating, and it is racist. ... [Trump] may not be a racist, but the comments are racist, and at some point you gotta call him out on it.”



Trump reportedly made the remark in an Oval Office meeting with lawmakers regarding immigration reform. He also reportedly said the U.S. should bring in more immigrants from countries like Norway instead of Haiti, El Salvador and some African countries.

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During the interview, Bush said Republicans should make the 2018 midterm elections about the state of the economy and the success of passing the GOP tax bill, warning that “nationalizing” the race would hurt the GOP.

"If the election is nationalized and it's not about the economy, then we'll lose," Bush said. "If it's about the economy and it's driven by state or district interest, incumbents can do well."

Bush also said the “constant chaos” surrounding Trump’s presidency has made it hard for him to succeed.

"The character of the guy and the [turnover] and fighting, and just the constant chaos around his presidency that is self-inflicted has made it hard for him," Bush said. "I want the president to succeed. I don't think think he will succeed if he continues on this path."

Bush, who competed with Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, has been a frequent critic of the president since he took office.

He called on Trump to act as a voice for “moral clarity” after his response to the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., last year, and said in May that his prediction that Trump would be a “chaos president” had come true.