Spokesperson clarifies Trump’s Philippines statements for Las Vegas forum

Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes came to a Las Vegas forum Friday with at least one goal: Clarify recent Donald Trump statement about the Philippines.

Reyes, representing the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign, had an ideal background for the task.

His father came to the United States from the Philippines some 50 years ago, he told the group. His mother is half native Hawaiian and half Japanese.

“He welcomes law-abiding Filipinos who want to come have a better life and better opportunities,” Reyes said, stressing that’s what Trump was trying to communicate and that he has “full authority” to clarify Trump’s comment.

Trump’s previous comments have sparked calls from some parts of the Philippines to ban him from entering the southeast Asian nation.

“We are letting people come in from terrorist nations that shouldn’t be allowed because you can’t vet them,” Trump said at a rally last week, according to an account in The New York Times.

Listing several countries that included the Philippines, Trump said immigrants from those nations have been arrested in the U.S. on charges related to terrorism, according to that report.

“We’re dealing with animals,” Trump said.

Reyes stressed Trump was talking specifically about “terrorist elements that do exist in the Philippines.”

Reyes also outlined in broad detail Trump’s policy stances, including closing tax loopholes that benefit corporations and lowering taxes.

“Mr. Trump believes in America first — no exceptions,” he said.

Contact Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2904. Find @BenBotkin1 on Twitter.