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Trump’s face appears on House floor

by Jesse Byrnes - 07/09/15 2:23 PM ET

Embattled businessman Donald Trump’s face appeared on the House floor Thursday as Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) ripped the real estate mogul for his comments on immigrants.

“For the record, I’m not Mexican; I’m not an immigrant,” Gutiérrez said, standing next to a poster of the 2016 presidential candidate and reality TV star throwing up his iconic “you’re fired” gesture.

“It’s important to point that out at the start, before I’m accused of being a criminal, a drug dealer or a rapist,” Gutiérrez continued, alluding to Trump’s controversial remarks.

{mosads}The Illinois Democrat, a vocal proponent of immigration reform, noted Trump didn’t extend his June 16 campaign launch rhetoric to all Latinos or Mexicans, just the “vast majority of Mexicans.”

“Clearly, if anyone has firsthand knowledge of Mexican immigrants working in the United States, it should be the owner of a hotel, casino, office building or a clothing line,” Gutiérrez said.

Trump has fired back at critics and repeatedly doubled down on his remarks from nearly a month ago, despite recently fizzled business ties and rebukes from fellow Republican candidates.

Some Republicans have defended the overall message from Trump, saying the U.S. must curb illegal immigration, a debate rekindled after a shooting last week; the suspect is in the country illegally.

Meanwhile, Trump has rocketed toward the top of the crowded GOP pack in recent surveys, including a North Carolina poll out Wednesday from left-leaning Public Policy Polling.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday some in the GOP haven’t criticized the “race-bating rhetoric of a leading Republican presidential candidate.”

Gutiérrez similarly referred to Trump as “one of the leading Republican candidates for president.”

Tags Donald Trump