Story highlights
Donald Trump hit Jeb Bush on Twitter for
Bush ignited a firestorm after explaining his "anchor babies" by saying "Frankly, it's more related to Asian people"
(CNN) —
Donald Trump mocked Jeb Bush on Twitter on Tuesday morning after the former Florida governor dug himself into a deeper hole explaining his “anchor babies” comment.
“In a clumsy move to get out of his ‘anchor babies’ dilemma, where he signed that he would not use the term and now uses it, he blamed ASIANS,” Trump wrote.
“Asians are very offended that JEB said that anchor babies applies to them as a way to be more politically correct to hispanics. A mess!” Trump then wrote, a few minutes later.
Trump, who spent much of Monday night blasting away at Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, appeared by Tuesday morning to have shifted his focus back to Bush. He knocked Bush in a third morning tweet, saying “Jeb Bush just talked about my border proposal to build a “fence.” It’s not a fence, Jeb, it’s a WALL, and there’s a BIG difference!”
On Monday, Bush found himself in a new mess when, while trying to clean-up controversy over his use of the term “anchor babies,” he said the offensive term was “frankly, more related to Asian people.”
Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii called on the Republican presidential candidate to “immediately retract his statements and apologize to the Asian community for his insensitive behavior.”
Bush’s comments “regarding the children of Asian immigrants are derogatory and offensive,” Schatz said in a statement.
It all started when the former Florida governor visited McAllen, Texas, located near the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday and defended his use of the term “anchor baby” to describe the children born on U.S. soil to parents who came into the country illegally. The phrase is considered offensive by many Latinos.
On Monday, Bush argued that he’s been “immersed in the immigrant experience” personally – his wife is from Mexico – and said it’s “ludicrous” for Democrats to say he was using the word in a derogatory fashion.
RELATED: Why Chinese moms want American babies
Further attempting to clarify his comments, the Republican presidential contender said he was actually talking about immigrants other than those who cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
“What I was talking about was the specific case of fraud being committed where there’s organized efforts and, frankly, it’s more related to Asian people coming into our country, having children in that organized efforts taking advantage of a noble concept which is birthright citizenship,” he said. “I support the 14th amendment.”
Campaign spokeswoman Kristy Campbell later clarified that he was referring to widely reported federal investigations into “birth tourism.”
In March, for example, The New York Times reported that federal agents raided three businesses in Southern California that arranged for pregnant Chinese women to come to the United States on a tourist visa, give birth, then obtain birth certificates and U.S. passports for their newborns.
CNN also reported on the thriving birth tourism business in 2013.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
David Goldman/AP
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush waves as he takes the stage as he formally announces he is joining the race for president with a speech June 15, 2015, at Miami Dade College in Miami.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush shakes hands with attendees after speaking at the 42nd annual Conservative Political Action Conference on February 27 in National Harbor, Maryland.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Scott Olson/Getty Images
Bush takes a selfie with a guest at a luncheon hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs on February 18 in Chicago. Bush delivered his first major foreign policy speech at the event.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Bush hands out items for Holiday Food Baskets to those in need outside the Little Havana offices of CAMACOL, the Latin American Chamber of Commerce on December 17 in Miami.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Image
Bush waves to the audience at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida, on August 30, 2012, on the final day of the Republican National Convention.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Bush (left) and wife Columba Bush attend the 2012 Lincoln Center Institute Gala at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on March 7, 2012, in New York City.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
President Barack Obama (left) speaks about Bush (center) while visiting Miami Central Senior High School on March 4, 2011 in Miami, Florida. The visit focused on education.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images
Bush (left) speaks with Brazilian President in charge Jose Alancar during a meeting at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, April 17, 2007. Bush was in Brazil to speak about sugar and ethanol business.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Then-Texas Governor Rick Perry (center) testifies as Bush (right) and then-Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (left) listen during a hearing before the House Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill October 19, 2005.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images
Bush gives a thumbs up signal from his car as he leaves a local polling station after casting his vote in Coral Gables, Florida, November 5, 2002.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Bush walks out of the West Wing after meeting with his brother, then-President George W. Bush, at the White House January 9, 2002. Governor Bush participated in the signing ceremony of the Everglades Protection Agreement.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Then-Mexican President Vincente Fox (left) and Bush hold a press conference September 7, 2001, in Miami. Fox visited Florida to attend the Americas Conference and deliver a speech to speak about issues such as immigration.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Luke Frazza/AFP/Getty Images
Then-President George W. Bush (right) is greeted by Jeb Bush on March 21, 2001, at Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida. President Bush was in Orlando to attend the American College of Cardiology Annual Convention.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images
Bush speaks during a press conference at the Carandolet Government Palace in Quito, January 18, 2006. Bush and a businessmen delegation were in a two-day visit to talk about a free trade agreement.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Bush speaks to reporters after meeting with the Florida State Cabinet at the Florida State Capitol Building November 16, 2000, in Tallahassee, Florida.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Paul Buck/AFP/Getty Images
Then-President George W. Bush (left) and Jeb Bush (right), raise their arms onstage following a rally at the Florida State Fairgrounds, October 25, 2000, in Brandon, Florida.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Tannen Maury/AFP/Getty Images
Jeb Bush (left) and then-President George W. Bush stand with their arms around each other's shoulders at a rally in Miami, Florida, September 22, 2000.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Then-President George W. Bush (right) and Jeb Bush go through the line for strawberries during a stop at the Stawberry Festival March 12, 2000 in Plant City, Florida.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
John Mottern/AFP/Getty Images
The Bush family, (left to right) former U.S. President George W., former Florida Governor Jeb, former President George H.W. and his wife Barbara, watch play during the Foursomes matches September 25, 1999 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts the site of the 33rd Ryder Cup Matches.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Joyce Naltchayan/AFP/Getty Images
Former President George H.W. Bush (second left), his wife Barbara Bush (left), their son Jeb Bush (center), then-first lady Hillary Clinton (second right), and former then-President Bill Clinton (right) look up to see the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team November 6, 1997 at the conclusion of the dedication ceremony of the George Bush Library in College Station, Texas.
Photos: Jeb Bush's life
PHOTO:
Newsmakers/Getty
Portrait of the Bush family in front of their Kennebunkport, Maine house August 24, 1986. Pictured, back row: Margaret holding daughter Marshall, Marvin Bush, Bill LeBlond. Pictured, front row: Neil Bush holding son Pierce, Sharon, George W. Bush holding daughter Barbara, Laura Bush holding daughter Jenna, Barbara Bush, George Bush, Sam LeBlond, Doro Bush Lebond, George P. (Jeb's son), Jeb Bush holding son Jebby, Columba Bush and Noelle Bush.
“The next president must have a plan to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws,” Campbell said in a written statement. “Gov. Bush is the only candidate in the entire presidential field who has presented a serious, conservative, comprehensive reform agenda to fix our broken immigration system.”
Pro-Hillary Clinton Democratic groups American Bridge and Correct the Record were quick to pounce on his word choice of “Asian people,” and sought to paint Bush as insensitive at a time when Republicans are trying to broaden its base and become more inclusive.
Bush earlier Monday argued that Democratic attacks against him over semantics amount to nothing more than political correctness.
“I think we all need to take a step back and chill out a little bit as it relates to the political correctness, that somehow you have to be scolded every time you say something,” Bush said.
CNN’s Dan Merica contributed to this report
