US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered a message of ethnic harmony on Friday at a Christian evangelical conference as he sought to calm concern about his criticism of a Mexican-Amer
US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump offered a message of ethnic harmony on Friday at a Christian evangelical conference as he sought to calm concern about his criticism of a Mexican-American judge.
In a departure from his usual freewheeling style, Mr Trump read a carefully scripted speech from a teleprompter as part of a new push by his campaign to tone down the outspoken New Yorker’s harsh rhetoric.
Speaking to the annual conference of the conservative Faith and Freedom Coalition, Mr Trump made a point of saying he would represent all Americans if elected President. “Freedom of any kind means no one should be judged by their race or their color and the tone of his hue,” Mr Trump said. “Right now, we have a very divided nation. We’re going to bring our nation together.”
Paul Ryan, the top elected U.S. Republican, had criticized Trump for what he called a -"textbook definition of a racist comment-" for his remarks about the judge. Other Republican leaders warned Trump to change his tone or risk losing their support.
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who led a movement to derail Trump's nomination, told CNN he would not consider running for the White House.
Romney blasted Trump for comments that he said denigrated Mexicans, women and religion.
-"Presidents have an impact on the nature of our nation, and trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry and trickle-down misogyny - all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of America,-" he said.
Romney said he expects Trump to get the Republican nomination, but said that he will not vote for either Trump or Clinton. He left open the possibility of casting a ballot for the Libertarian Party candidate, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson.
