Meet Donald Trump supporters from the various groups he’s offended — including women, Muslims and Mexican-Americans
Donald Trump speaks at a campaign stop in Carmel, Ind., on May 2.
(JOE RAEDLE/GETTY IMAGES)
MEERA JAGANNATHAN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Sunday, May 15, 2016, 4:00 AM
During Donald Trump’s presidential campaign he’s professed love for women, "the Hispanics," "the blacks," "the Muslims" and myriad other groups he has offended — yet hard numbers show they don't love him back.
Seventy-seven percent of
Hispanicsand seven in 10
womenview him unfavorably, according to recent Gallup polls. A whopping 86% of
black votersviewed him unfavorably in an NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll. Meanwhile, just 7% of
Muslimssurveyed said they would support him, per a February poll from the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
A small but very vocal minority, however, has boarded the Trump Train.
Some have alienated friends in supporting the bigoted bloviator; others didn't want to be pictured here. All, though, believe that the mad mogul — who has
slung misogynistic barbsfor decades, called for
a "complete shutdown"of all members of an entire religion from entering the country and
pledged to build a big, beautiful wallto keep out Mexican immigrants — should be our next commander-in-chief. These are their stories.
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Mexican-American — and voting for Trump
While announcing his candidacy for the highest office in the land, the presumptive GOP nominee famously stereotyped Mexican immigrants as "rapists" and vowed to build "a great wall" on the United States' Southern border — and make Mexico pay for it. He has also pledged to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in America.
But Alise Mendoza, a 25-year-old advertising professional from Long Beach, Calif., hasn’t let Trump’s racist rhetoric keep her from supporting him — even though her dad emigrated from Durango, Mexico in the '80s without papers and became a U.S. citizen eight years later.
"He came here with pretty much no money, and the reason he came here, obviously, was to get a better life," Mendoza told the Daily News. She says "we need the wall" to prevent Mexican immigrants from entering illegally — and insists it's "in their best interest" to find a pathway to citizenship.
Hispanics? Donald Trump really loves his $18 taco bowl scam
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On why we need a border wall:
"I don't blame the people coming in. They want a better life for their families. I get that. But I think what they don't understand is … it's only a matter of time that they're caught or that something big will end up happening.
"(Trump) also said that he will make it easier for people to get their paperwork done … if they don't have any criminal background history," she added. "That actually helps them more, if he makes it easier for people to process and get their stuff done."
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On Trump's "rapists" remark:
"I think he should've worded it a little differently. But what I make from that is that Mexico really isn't grabbing people's hands and saying, 'Go here.' They're not really guiding people. But they are indirectly letting people come in. … They could be rapists, murderers, drug dealers, or they could be people trying to make the best for their families."
On Trump's boneheaded Cinco de Mayotaco bowl tweet:
"I think he was genuinely trying to be nice. Maybe not a taco bowl because that's not traditional Mexican food … He probably should've chose a different food. I think someone misguided him. It's really a Mexican holiday, not a Hispanic thing … But I don't see anything bad about it."
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On the stigma of being a Hispanic Trump supporter:
"If you are Hispanic and you support Trump, a lot of the Hispanics, in this weird way they are very upset at you. They call you names, they look down at you, they call you trash. I almost feel like I can't even speak."
Die-hard Trump supporter Sabir Hussaini turns 18 in July.
(COURTESY OF SABIR HUSSEINI)
Muslim-American — and voting for Trump
The ex-reality star, on the heels of December's mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., by ISIS-pledged terrorists, called for a "complete and total shutdown" of Muslims entering the U.S. — drawing condemnation from Democrats, Republicans, world leaders and celebrities alike.
But soon-to-be-18 Sabir Hussaini, the son of two immigrants who fled Afghanistan as refugees during the Soviet-Afghan War, owns an estimated $200 worth of Trump merchandise.
The Kansas-born Muslim teen, who says he's "obsessed" with the tycoon, insists that even though a majority of Muslims reject the likely GOP nominee, the venom-spewing mogul doesn't seem hateful at all.
"He just wants to put American people first, because that's what every President should do for their country," Hussaini told The News.
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On why he supports a "temporary" Muslim ban:
"I'm Shia, and most of the refugees are radical Sunnis. … It's not that I don't like them; it's that I don't support what they do. … They killed my people and stuff, so I don't want them to come here."
On the irony of supporting a ban on allowing any Muslims to enter the country as the son of two Muslim refugees:
"I know that sounds ironic because I don't support the refugees now … but most of the refugees from my dad's time that came from Afghanistan weren't linked to ISIS or Taliban or whatever it was. They were regular people just living lives.
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"I know a lot of refugees from Syria are regular people just like my dad, but there's also a good amount that are … not even Syrian, they just came to Syria from other countries to try to act Syrian. But we can't tell who's who, so that's why Trump wants to put a temporary ban.
"I don't completely want them to be banned, just so we can figure out what's going on and who's who … If they're clean and secure, then they can come here."
Pastor Mark Burns and his family pose with the presumptive Republican nominee.
(COURTESY OF GENE HO)
African-American — and voting for Trump
It's no secret Trump has a thorny history with African-Americans. The billionaire's father’s real-estate company, helmed by The Donald at the time, was
sued by the Justice Departmentin 1973 for allegedly refusing to rent properties to black tenants.
In 1989, he memorably took out full-page ads in New York's daily newspapers — including this one — demanding that five black and Hispanic teens accused of raping a female jogger in Central Park
be given the death penalty, though they later turned out to be innocent. To this day, he routinely tacks on an antiquated definite article ("the blacks") when referring to the racial group. And in February, when asked in a CNN interview whether he disavowed the support of former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke, he
played dumb— later blaming his avoidance on
a faulty earpiece.
None of that bothers Pastor Mark Burns, as the South Carolina-bred evangelical preacher and Trump stumper, 36, has "literally lost count" of how many rallies he has spoken at. The father of six, who owns his own television studio in Easley, S.C., said he believes Trump will rejuvenate urban areas by "putting economic power back into the hands of the communities."
"He's a master at creating jobs," Burns told The News. "And right now, we need somebody who thinks like that."
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Burns has traditionally voted Democrat, but says he's "seen the light." "Believe it or not, there are way more black people that are voting for Donald Trump privately than you think," he said.
On why he thinks Trump isn't racist:
"In reference to dealing with black issues and dealing with issues that plague those minority communities, Donald Trump doesn't have a racist bone in his body. I know what real racism is. And Donald Trump is so far from it. Talking to him and his wonderful wife and his children is like hanging out with some friends of mine that are black … He's just that kind of a person. He is not uneasy around you. He's very relaxed."
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Former Klansmen David Duke has endorsed Trump.
(RICHARD ELLIS/GETTY IMAGES)
On "the blacks":
"When Donald Trump talks about 'the blacks' he's talking about the blacks, the group as a whole. He's talking about the groups.
"No, it doesn't bother me, because I know Donald Trump. I know who he is. I know he is not at all speaking in any derogatory sense at all. He's simply talking to that ethnic group, the blacks or the whites."
On racial tension under the Obama administration:
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"Even with a sitting black President, the racial tension in this country is at an all-time high. And I believe it's led by the Democratic party and led by President Barack Obama, and obviously Secretary Clinton desires to continue that torch, which I believe will lead us more and more into economic destruction, especially for minorities in this country.
"I have not experienced racist tension from Donald Trump. I'm from the South. Literally right over the next county, there are active KKK groups that parade their rebel flag on a daily basis.
“This is in 2016. Right now, today, with a sitting black President. So I know what real racism looks like. And it is not Donald Trump."
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Burns says he's "literally lost count" of how many campaign speeches he has made on Trump's behalf.
(COURTESY OF TOMARRA BURNS)
On Trump's ex-KKK leader endorsement:
"Does he want it? He said, 'No, I don't want it, I don't accept it.' … He doesn't stand for any hate groups, whether it be a Christian hate group or an Islam hate group. He's already stated this. Mr. Trump has already stated that there was a technical issue in the earpiece.
"I'm in television; I own a TV studio. I do know how technical issues can cause you to miss out on what someone is saying."
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Trump speaks during a town hall interview on NBC's "Today" show April 21.
(© BRENDAN MCDERMID / REUTERS/REUTERS)
Asian-American — and voting for Trump
During a campaign stop in Iowa last summer, Trump
employed broken Englishin a jaw-dropping punchline mocking Asians. "Negotiating with Japan, negotiating with China," he said. "When these people walk in the room, they don't say, 'Oh, hello! How's the weather? It's so beautiful outside. Isn't it lovely? How are the Yankees doing? Oh, they're doing wonderful. Great. They say, 'We want deal!'"
Months later at a Q&A session in New Hampshire, he point-blank asked a Harvard student — who had challenged the mogul's claim that South Korea pays next to nothing for U.S. military presence — whether he was "from South Korea." "I'm not," said the 20-year-old, identified by
NPRas Joseph Choe. "I was born in Texas, raised in Colorado."
Lisa Shin, who began the "Korean-Americans for Trump" Facebook page last month under the National Diversity Coalition for Trump umbrella, looks past his cringeworthy comments.
The 48-year-old resident of Los Alamos, N.M., who owns her own optometry practice, says she cares more about issues like securing the border and stimulating the economy — and branded Hillary Clinton "a direct threat" to those goals.
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Lisa Shin, 48, started a "Korean-Americans for Trump" Facebook group.
(COURTESY OF LISA SHIN)
On Trump's "Are you from South Korea?" gaffe:
"That didn't really bother me. I think about myself and I'm in contact with people from all over the world … I might ask someone, 'Are you from Russia? Are you from China?' I don't know that that necessarily has to be offensive. I know that when people look at me they might say, 'Are you South Korean?'
"I understand that Asian-Americans, Korean-Americans feel like they're outsiders. And I understand that perhaps the Democrats appear to be more inclusive and they seem to be more embracing, more accepting. That's what they portray. But for me, you know, I look at the policies. I look at Hillary for example. She might preach being inclusive and being diverse and embracing cultures … but what do her policies mean?"
On Trump's horrific Asian accent:
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"To be honest, I wish he hadn't done that. I understand. I grew up with that, I experienced it, it's very demeaning. I understand. But again ... I'm going to look past that and I'm going to look at policies. … I'm far more concerned about safety, about secure borders. I'm more concerned about preserving the American way of life, the American dream. To me there's far more important things to worry about than what he says. Do I need to care what Trump said to Rosie O'Donnell, to Megyn Kelly? Do I need to be offended? Or are there bigger issues here, are there far more important things to be concerned about?"
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Indian-American—and voting for Trump
Trump whipped out another impression during a Delaware rally last month while making a point about outsourcing.
"You want to find out about your credit card, guess what, you're talking to a person from India. How the hell does that work?" he
told the crowd. "So I called up, I tell the guys I'm checking on my card, I said, 'Where are you from?'" Then, in a cartoonish approximation of an Indian accent, Trump added, "We are from India."
One day later, Maine Gov. Paul LePage — one of three sitting governors endorsing the mogul — whined during the state's Republican convention that Indian workers were
"the worst ones"to understand.
Aditi Singh, a Jamshedpur, India native who followed her husband to the U.S. in 2001, couldn't be less offended. The 40-year-old mom of two, who now lives in Suwanee, Ga., says she's far more concerned with illegal immigration — which makes sense in light of her claim that an undocumented immigrant with a criminal history stole her husband's identity, causing years of hell for their family until officials cleared his name in 2008.
On why she has "zero tolerance" for illegal immigration:
"My husband's identity was stolen by an illegal immigrant from Colombia. He was vicious, and everything came on my husband's name. We've lived through nightmares because of all of this.
“And now when we see the illegals being given a free pass for everything, we feel cheated. We feel offended. Everyone should go through the process.
"It's a land of immigrants. We've done our share. We're paying our taxes. We waited for years to get the legal status here."
Trump speaks during a town hall campaign event in Hickory, N.C., on March 14.
(© CHRIS KEANE / REUTERS/REUTERS)
On political correctness:
"I don't want political correctness. We've had enough of all those. I want somebody who speaks our minds and who we feel will do something about the country overall … not just welcome every Tom, Dick and Harry into the country and make us taxpayers pay for it."
On Trump's Indian accent:
"Oh, come on. Don't we Indians copy Chinese people, don't we Indians copy Mexican people? … That's how we talk. I have seen Indians copy other ethnic groups. … I don't find it offensive. I would much rather have a leader who's doing something about the country, addresses the real issue rather than speaks what I want to hear and does nothing about it."
Trump once branded Fox News journalist Megyn Kelly "crazy."
(JOHN MINCHILLO/AP)
Female—and voting for Trump
Where to begin with Trump and women? The thrice-married magnate has bragged on Howard Stern's radio show that he could have slept with the late Princess Diana, asserted that "you have to treat (women) like s--t," and called the notion of a woman breastfeeding "disgusting."
He has waged war on "crazy" Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, at one point insinuating that her tough line of questioning during a Republican debate
had to do with her menstruating, and in a swipe at failed GOP candidate Carly Fiorina, he told Rolling Stone magazine, "
Look at that face.Would anyone vote for that?"
But Amylee Kotcha Jones, a nurse from Oregon, Ohio, insists that Trump insults men and women the same way, pointing to his zingers aimed at Marco Rubio ("Little Marco"), Jeb Bush ("low-energy"), Lindsey Graham ("nut job") and Rand Paul ("I never attacked him on his looks, and believe me, there's plenty of subject matter right there"). Plus, the 44-year-old nurse told The News, she's far more worried about her son, 23, getting a job, and inner cities collapsing into "squalor."
On Trump's comments about women:
"I really don't care about what he says to other women. Women have fought very long to be treated equally to men. … If he talks about women and talks about men the same, then there's really no difference."
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Donald Trump's public feuds
On his feud — andeventual reconciliation— with Megyn Kelly:
"She just went after him on a personal basis for something that he said to Rosie O'Donnell. That's just completely ridiculous … All these major situations, and we're going to talk about Rosie O'Donnell's feelings? Give me a break.
"You know, we trusted (Kelly). You have to understand that we trusted her on a nightly basis. We believed that she was on our side … When Megyn Kelly did that, I thought it was disgusting and I thought it was terrible.
"Apparently now they've buried the hatchet, but that hatchet that has been buried is between Mr. Trump and Megyn Kelly. That's between them. I will never watch her ever again. … Maybe he's a bigger person. Maybe he's a better person than all of us. But I don't like her, and I will never trust her again."
Trump speaks at a town hall event in Appleton, Wis., on March 30.
(© MARK KAUZLARICH / REUTERS/REUTERS)
On Trump calling Rosie O'Donnell "crude, rude, obnoxious and dumb":
"He said it in response to nasty comments that she made to him. And, quite honestly, I don't care for Rosie O'Donnell … She said very nasty things to him that I think wasn't even necessary."
On Trump mocking Fiorina's "face":
"Because it was her persona, he said. … It is her persona. She has a very bizarre affect. It just doesn't come across natural to me like she's a believable person. … That's what I would say that he meant. That's what I got out of it."
On Trump's detractors:
"We rallied around with our grassroots effort to put Mr. Trump where he is now. So when people go after him, we take it very personal. Because it's us that want Mr. Trump to be the nominee. And we want him to be President of the United States. As crazy as everyone thinks it is … we see something in him that is very much like us."
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