Perry denounces Trump over immigrant remarks

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday disavowed controversial remarks about immigrants from fellow Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.

“I don’t think Donald Trump’s remarks reflect the Republican Party,” Perry said during a speech in Washington outlining his economic plan to support poorer communities.

{mosads}”I think the Republican Party is reflected in people like me,” Perry added, turning to his economic agenda to argue Hispanic voters should look to the GOP come 2016.

“I think we have a great message for the Hispanic community,” he said.

Few Republicans have spoken out over Trump’s remarks, which sparked outcry among Hispanic groups and led to several severed business ties for the reality TV star.

Fellow Texas Republican candidate Sen. Ted Cruz said Trump was “terrific” and “brash” on Fox News earlier this week, adding, “I think he speaks the truth.”

And former New York Gov. George Pataki has described Trump’s remarks as “disrespectful” to Hispanics and “ridiculous,” calling on other GOP hopefuls to disavow them.

Trump has battled controversy for the past two weeks since saying during his campaign launch that some immigrants from Mexico are importing drugs and crime and are “rapists.”