Eva Longoria to Pence: Mexicans aren’t ‘a thing’

Getty Images

Actress Eva Longoria says GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence will regret dismissing Donald Trump’s criticism of Mexican immigrants, hitting the Indiana governor after he said Democrats “whipped out that Mexican thing again” this week.

“Gov. Pence, we are not ‘a thing,’” Longoria says in a new video from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) released Friday.

{mosads}“We are proud American citizens,” adds Longoria, a vocal Democratic activist and longtime supporter of both President Obama and current White House nominee Hillary Clinton.

“We are mothers and fathers working for a better future for our kids. We are children studying hard and dreaming of giving back to the United States that we love. And most importantly, Gov. Pence, we will be voting this November.”

Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has struggled to make inroads with Latinos since the beginning of his campaign, when he said Mexico was sending drug-dealers and rapists over the border.

Pence on Tuesday added fuel to the fire by waving off those remarks in his vice presidential debate against Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.).

“You’ve whipped out that Mexican thing again,” he said. “[Trump’s] not a polished politician like you and Hillary Clinton.”

Longoria on Friday said Pence’s remarks diminish the contributions Mexican-Americans have made to the U.S.

“’That Mexican thing’ contributes to a purchasing power of over $1 trillion,” said Longoria, who is Mexican-American.

Salma Hayek, another Mexican-American actress, also criticized Pence and Trump earlier this week.

“To all Latinos in the United States of America: We cannot allow them to insult and abuse us anymore,” she said in a Spanish-language ad for Clinton’s campaign out Thursday.

“The Latino vote is extremely important. We can prove that we are a mighty community. We have to vote. Vote for Hillary Clinton.”

Tags campaign ads celebrities Democrats DNC Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Mexico Mike Pence Tim Kaine

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.