Donald Trump speaks at the podium to supporters and media and announces he will be running for President of the United States at Trump Tower on 5th Avenue in New York City on June 16, 2015. Trump is the 12th Republican running for the White House. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- Donald Trump's presidential announcement speech has generated worldwide attention and condemnation for seemingly detrimental choices of words about Mexico.

Trump, 69, famous for his wealth, real estate finesse and The Apprentice reality TV series, made remarks on a wide range of topics, from national security, to business, to the Islamic State, but his comments on Mexico seem to have garnered the most listeners.


"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending the best... they're sending people that have lots of problems and they're bringing those problems. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime. They're rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they're telling us what we're getting," Trump said.

Many in Mexico and Latin America did not agree with Trump's claims.

Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs José Antonio Meade said the comments showed "profound ignorance."

Pablo Manriquez, Hispanic media director of the Democratic National Committee, told Forbes that Trump's "utter disrespect for Mexicans and immigrants" is "nothing new. In fact, it's just the same old Latino outreach playbook the GOP turns to every election, just with less packaging and finish."

In his speech, Trump continued.

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"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border... and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words," he said.

Mexican Secretary of the Interior Miguel Ángel Osorio called Trump's comments "biased and absurd" and said Trump ignored the fact that the United States was built by the hard work of immigrants worldwide.

Osorio also posted a comment about discrimination on Twitter hours after Trump's speech, but it is not confirmed if it was a direct response to Trump's comments.

Eliminar la discriminación es una tarea que nos compete a todas y todos, que exige respetar la diversidad y dejar los prejuicios a un lado. — Miguel A.OsorioChong (@osoriochong) June 17, 2015

"Eliminating discrimination is a task that concerns us all, which requires respect for diversity and to leave prejudices aside," Osorio tweeted.

Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, told Forbes that Trump is "having a difficult time separating fact from fiction. Developing a sound foreign policy with the United States' most important trade partner and neighbor is not a reality TV show."

Trump said that Mexico, as well as China, defeat the United States in economic policy.

"They're laughing at us, at our stupidity" Trump said. "And now they're beating us economically. They are not our friend, believe me. The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else's problems."

Lisa Navarrete of the immigrant advocacy group National Council of La Raza said: "I look at him as a 2-year-old who will say a naughty word to get their parents' attention."