Donald Trump continues to beat the drum on his immigration platform and is now using the escape of Mexico's notorious drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, to stoke those flames.
Following last night's announcement that Guzman had, once again, made a daring escape from prison, Trump took to Twitter this afternoon to use the prison break as a means for touting his manifesto.
Mexico's biggest drug lord escapes from jail. Unbelievable corruption and USA is paying the price. I told you so!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2015
Can you envision Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton negotiating with 'El Chapo', the Mexican drug lord who escaped from prison? ....— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
...Trump, however, would kick his ass!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
On Saturday, Trump delivered predictably rambling remarks to a large crowd in Las Vegas at Freedom Fest. The real estate mogul hammered away on his immigration stance, which has become something of a tentpole for his campaign even as it has alienated him from numerous business partners and Hispanic leaders.
Meanwhile, some natural allies of Trump are starting to distance themselves from the billionaire. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who's competing against Trump for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination, said of Trump on Sunday, "I think he's a wrecking ball for the future of the Republican Party with the Hispanic community."
And on CBS's "Face the Nation," House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said, "I don't know whether he's helping or hurting, but he's a candidate... Most of the candidates have disagreed with his assertions with regard to our border. And, certainly, I disagree."
Even Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch has weighed in against Trump's assertions.
Mexican immigrants, as with all immigrants, have much lower crime rates than native born. Eg El Paso safest city in U.S. Trump wrong.— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) July 12, 2015
Trump, however, is highly unlikely to back down, especially as he's seen his position in GOP polls rise in recent weeks despite also having one of the lowest recorded favorability ratings since 1980.