Trump: ‘Absolutely’ possible I’d be treated unfairly by a Muslim judge

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in an interview broadcast Sunday called his criticism of the judge overseeing civil fraud lawsuits against Trump University “common sense,” adding that it’s “absolutely” possible he’d be treated unfairly by a Muslim judge.

{mosads}During an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Trump said U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel’s has treated him in a “hostile manner” and pointed to the judge’s Mexican heritage.

“I think it has a lot to do with it. First of all, I’ve had terrible rulings forever,” Trump said. “This is a case I should’ve won on summary judgment.

“He is a member of a club or society, very strongly pro-Mexican, which is all fine,” he added. “But I say he’s got bias. I want to build a wall. I’m going to build a wall.”

When asked if he feels that he’d be treated unfairly by a Muslim judge because of his call to temporarily ban Muslim from entering the United States, Trump said, “It’s possible.”

“That would be possible, absolutely,” he said.

Trump said he’s not rejecting a tradition that Americans “don’t judge people by who their parents were and where they came from.”

“I’m not talking about tradition — I’m talking about common sense, OK?” Trump said. “[Curiel is] proud of his heritage. And I think that’s great that he’s proud of his heritage.

“He’s not treating me fairly,” Trump added.

Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda said that Trump’s comments show that he doesn’t respect the rule of law, “nor the very basic principles that our country was founded on.”

“Donald Trump has now said that Hispanic-American judges and Muslim-American judges are incapable of ruling fairly on cases involving him because of his offensive language and campaign rhetoric against Hispanics and Muslims,” Miranda said in a statement. “By that standard, would he also seek to recuse all women judges, African-American judges, Asian-American judges, and LGBT judges?

“He simply lacks the judgment and temperament to serve in a role that would empower him to make judicial appointments,” Miranda added.

–This report was updated at 12:24 p.m.