Trump Pushes Back Against Clinton’s Racism Claims

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump pushed back on Thursday against claims that he is a racist. His opponent, Hillary Clinton, said the Republican Party was now being led by a “radical fringe” that is motivated by “prejudice and paranoia.” Clinton called the movement the “alt-right,” which refers to far right groups who are opposed to multiculturalism and immigration.

Trump defended his hard-line stance on immigration and argued to Democratic voters that they had been abandoned by Clinton.

“Hillary Clinton is going to try to accuse this campaign, and millions of decent Americans who support this campaign, of being racist,” said the Republican nominee. Trump called the argument the “oldest play in the Democratic playbook” and a “disgusting argument.”

“It’s the last refuge of the discredited Democratic politician,” Trump said.

The New York businessman said he had three words for the Clinton campaign, her donors and her advisers: “Shame on you.”

The Trump campaign says it has never used the term “alt-right” and is not a proponent of any groups associated with “message of hate.” The Republican candidate accused Clinton of trying to distract questions surrounding The Clinton Foundation and her private email server use.

“She lies, she smears, she paints decent Americans as racists,” Trump said.