Sen. Orrin Hatch Orrin Grant HatchBottom line Bottom line Senate GOP divided over whether they'd fill Supreme Court vacancy MORE (R-Utah) on Tuesday defended Donald Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE as a "first-time candidate" amid swirling criticism from Republicans of the presumptive GOP presidential nominee's racially charged rhetoric.

"Be nice to him, he's a first-time candidate," Hatch told members of the media in Washington, according to reporters, adding that Trump is "going to make mistakes."

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The Senate president pro tempore indicated that he won't rescind his support for Trump in the wake of the candidate going after the Mexican heritage of a federal judge overseeing lawsuits against Trump University.

Hatch said Trump is "not a racist" but said the businessman makes "outrageous statements."

Trump has rebuffed criticism from lawmakers from across the political spectrum who have slammed him for saying Judge Gonzalo Curiel has a conflict of interest in a Trump University case because of Trump's proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Curiel was born in Indiana to Mexican parents.

Top GOP Sen Hatch says this is Trump's 1st time at politics:

"Be nice to him.... He's going to make mistakes." — Lisa Mascaro (@LisaMascaro) June 7, 2016

.@SenOrrinHatch on Trump: "Be nice to him. He's a first-time candidate. ... Be nice to him." — Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) June 7, 2016

.@SenOrrinHatch: Trump "is not a racist but he does make a lot of outrageous statements. ... I like the guy personally." — Ed O'Keefe (@edatpost) June 7, 2016