Trump to surrogates: Escalate criticism of judge, journalists

An embattled Donald Trump urgently rallied his most visible supporters to defend his attacks on a federal judge’s Mexican ancestry during a conference call Monday in which he ordered them to question the judge’s credibility and impugn reporters as racists.

“We will overcome,” Trump said, according to two supporters who were on the call and requested anonymity. “And I’ve always won, and I’m going to continue to win. And that’s the way it is.”

There was no mention of apologizing or backing away from his widely criticized remarks about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is overseeing cases against the Trump University real estate program.

When former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer interrupted the discussion to inform Trump that his campaign had asked surrogates to stop talking about the lawsuit in an email Sunday, Trump demanded to know who sent the memo and immediately overruled his staff.

“Take that order and throw it the hell out,” Trump said.

Told the memo was sent by Erica Freeman, a staffer who circulates information to surrogates, Trump said he didn’t know her.

He openly questioned how the campaign could defend itself if supporters weren’t allowed to talk.

“Are there any other stupid letters that were sent to you folks?” Trump said. “That’s one of the reasons I want to have this call, because you guys are getting sometimes stupid information from people that aren’t so smart.”

Brewer, who was on the call with prominent Republicans like Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, interjected again.

“You all better get on the page,” she told him.

Trump told his supporters to attack journalists who ask questions about the lawsuit and his comments about Curiel.

“The people asking the questions — those are the racists,” Trump said. “I would go at ’em.”

Trump said the campaign also should criticize television reporters.