June 22, 2016 News & Press Releases · Press Releases and Announcements

Where do Gillespie and Wittman Stand on Trump?


by Democratic Party of Virginia

It's been 19 days since Ed Gillespie refused to comment on Donald Trump's racist comments on Judge Curiel's impartiality. Rob Wittman has also remained silent, even as his leader, Speaker Paul Ryan, called Trump's comments the “textbook definition of a racist comment.”

Both Gillespie and Wittman have endorsed Donald Trump and both have refused to condemn his racist rhetoric. 

Prominent Democrats including Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam and DPVA Chairwoman have recently taken Gillespie and Wittman to task:

"Stewart has enthusiastically parroted the celebrity billionaire’s anti-immigrant platform. But Northam noted that Gillespie and Wittman failed to denounce statements Trump made about an American-born judge with Mexican parents, which House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) called 'the textbook definition of a racist comment.'” - Washington Post, June 18, 2016

"The far-right wing of the party praises him without even acknowledging or questioning his bizarre statements and opinions. And the cowardly — arguably the most harmful faction — remain silent at a time when Americans desperately seek reassurance from party leaders on both sides of the aisle." Op-Ed: Roanoke Times, DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker, June 17, 2016

"It's telling that Ed Gillespie and Rob Wittman have remained silent on Trump even as their Washington Insider friends have stepped up to condemn his comments," said Emily Bolton, Communications Director, Democratic Party of Virginia. "If Gillespie and Wittman want the highest office in the Commonwealth, they need to be leaders and let Virginians known where they stand."

BACKGROUND:

On June 2nd, Trump said he was Judge Curiel’s Mexican heritage was an “inherent conflict of interest” because the candidate was “building a wall.”  Judge Curiel was born in Indiana.

On June 9th, Gillespie’s campaign was asked what the candidate thought of Trump’s remarks and declined to answer.

On June 15th, Gillespie to declined to participate in an interview regarding Donald Trump's visit to Richmond and implications for 2017.

On June 18th, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam called out Ed Gillespie and Rob Wittman's silence during a speech at Democrats' state convention.

Ed Gillespie said in a recent interview: “It’s very important that we help Donald Trump carry the Commonwealth."