Trump: Gingrich criticism of me 'inappropriate'

A day after former House speaker Newt Gingrich called Donald Trump's latest comments on Judge Gonzalo Curiel "inexcusable," the presumptive Republican nominee fired back at the former House speaker, who has largely been supportive of his candidacy.

"As far as Newt is concerned, I saw Newt," Trump told "Fox & Friends" on Monday after the show played clips of Hillary Clinton and Gingrich denouncing his remarks speculating that Curiel's Mexican heritage represented a conflict of interest in the cases against Trump University over which he is presiding. "I was surprised at Newt. I thought it was inappropriate what he said."


Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," Gingrich remarked of the attacks on Curiel, a federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against Trump over his now-defunct Trump University venture, "I think this is one of the worst mistakes Trump has made. I think it's inexcusable."

With respect to Clinton, who told ABC on Sunday that Trump is "trying to divert attention from the very serious fraud charges against Trump University," Trump fired right back.

"He does have that thin skin, and you know, Judge Curiel is as American as I am, and certainly as American as Donald Trump is, and Trump's continuing ethnic slurs and rants against everyone, including a distinguished federal judge, I think makes my point rather conclusively," Clinton remarked.

Trump responded, "You know, she's under investigation," alluding to the ongoing FBI probe into whether criminal activity occurred as a result of her private email server setup while secretary of state. Clinton has said her email setup was a "mistake," but denied any wrongdoing.

"She would be going to jail except the system is possibly rigged, frankly. I mean for her to be talking about anything, this is just a small civil case, this is not a big deal. I mean, believe it or not, this is not a big deal. They make it a big deal because it's me," Trump said. "As far as other people are concerned — and I'll win the case, I'll win the case very easily. It goes before a jury. The good news is I go before a jury, so. But it shouldn't even be a case. This case should have thrown out on summary judgment. If someone else were there, this would have been thrown out on summary judgment."