The one positive thing he said was qualified by “I assume”, implying that there may not even be a single good person in that group, just criminals. His statement was portrayed as negative because it was intended to be negative. The notion that it was originally some middle-of-the-road equally positive and negative description is ridiculous
The notion it applies to all or most Mexicans is equally ridiculous.
Trump is referring to a belief, at the time, that the Mexican government is 'sending' people into the U.S., and that many or most of *those* people are of a criminal element.
Donald Trump: 'The Mexican government ... they send the bad ones over'
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Early in the debate, Fox News’ Chris Wallace, one of the moderators, pressed Trump on some of his past statements about undocumented immigration -- the signature issue of Trump’s campaign.
Wallace asked Trump, "What evidence do you have, specific evidence, that the Mexican government is sending criminals across the border?"
Trump cited conversations with "border patrol people" who told him that it was true: "Our leaders are stupid, our politicians are stupid, and the Mexican government is much smarter, much sharper, much more cunning, and they send the bad ones over because they don't want to pay for them, they don't want to take care of them. Why should they, when the stupid leaders of the United States will do it for them?And that’s what’s happening, whether you like it or not."
We checked a previous comment by Trump on this topic. In a July 8 interview with NBC, Trump told interviewer Katy Tur, "The Mexican government forces many bad people into our country because they're smart. They're smarter than our leaders, and their negotiators are far better than what we have, to a degree that you wouldn’t believe. They're forcing people into our country. … And they are drug dealers and they are criminals of all kinds. We are taking Mexico’s problems."
PolitiFact - Donald Trump: 'The Mexican government ... they send the bad ones over'
You Nancys can stop apoplecting now.