RNC asks Trump to tone down immigration remarks

by Elliot Smilowitz - 07/08/15 10:07 PM ET

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus reportedly spoke with Donald Trump by phone Wednesday, asking him to tone down his controversial statements on immigration.

Priebus and Trump spoke for 45 minutes, according to The Washington Post. RNC chief strategist Sean Spicer confirmed the call to both the Post and the The New York Times.

“Chairman Priebus often speaks privately with candidates seeking our party’s nomination,” Spicer said in a statement to the Post. “He did have a very respectful conversation with Mr. Trump on Wednesday. They discussed multiple comments, including comments on illegal immigration.

{mosads}Trump, though, disputed the report in a tweet on Thursday morning, calling it “totally false reporting.”

“He called me, ten minutes, said I hit a ‘nerve,’ doing well, end!,” Trump wrote.

Trump, a 2016 Republican presidential candidate, sparked outrage when he criticized Hispanic immigrants and Mexico during his presidential launch event last month.

Since then, a number of businesses have cut their ties to the real estate tycoon and reality TV star over the remarks, even as his poll numbers continue to rise.

Celebrity chef José Andrés on Wednesday backed out of a restaurant deal at a Trump hotel coming soon to Washington, joining NBC, Univision, Macy’s and other groups in separating themselves from business deals with Trump.

Even as businesses run from Trump, though, he took a lead in the Republican White House field in North Carolina on Wednesday.

—Ben Kamisar contributed.

This story was updated on July 9 at 10:33 a.m.

Tags Donald Trump