WASHINGTON 鈥� Long before Donald Trump was the Republican presidential candidate, Corey Stewart knew a thing or two about the power of incendiary remarks.
When Stewart, as chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, chairman of Trump鈥檚 Virginia campaign, and a contender for Virginia governor in 2017, introduces Trump at a Richmond rally Friday night, both will be scrutinized for recent controversial comments.
Trump faces criticism from some in the GOP over remarks about a U.S.-born judge of Mexican heritage presiding over a fraud case against him.
Stewart has taken some heat for a Facebook post suggesting how he would deal with over-the-top protesters. Last week, as Trump supporters were assaulted by protesters, Stewart took to the social network:
鈥淭ime to put our foot down. These hoodlums attacked Trump supporters because they don鈥檛 like our views. These Trump supporters could have been you or your family. Are we going to tolerate this? If you tolerate thuggery, you will get more of it. When I am governor, thugs like these will be apprehended and, if they are illegal, we will kick their asses out of the country, just like we did in Prince William County.鈥�
In a 草莓传媒 interview Friday, Stewart said he doesn鈥檛 anticipate problems for the rally at the Richmond Coliseum.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 expect a lot of protesters or rioters,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淲e think we鈥檝e got the situation under control.鈥�
Stewart said he is excited to bring Trump onstage, saying he is a great candidate 鈥渁nd he鈥檚 got so much support in the commonwealth.鈥�
Trump has been criticized by some in the GOP over comments about U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who was born in Indiana to Mexican immigrants.
Trump has said Curiel is biased toward him because of his plan to build a wall on border between the United States and Mexico.
鈥淟ook, the mainstream media, the left wing, they鈥檙e going to attack Donald Trump over and over again,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to stand behind him. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 doing and that鈥檚 what we have to do in order to win in November.鈥�
Stewart said he doesn鈥檛 think Trump was actually referring to Curiel鈥檚 ethnicity, but was concerned about the judge鈥檚 relationship with La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
鈥淭his judge has been an activist in supporting illegal immigrants and not wanting to deport illegal aliens from the United States,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 antithetical to Trump鈥檚 position.鈥�
In 2007, Stewart was instrumental in Prince William County adopting an illegal immigration enforcement policy that requires county police officers to check the immigration status of every person arrested.
Today, as opponents challenge Trump鈥檚 choice of words and as he readies for a battle with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, Stewart was asked about the tenor of the current political discourse.
鈥淚 think the tone is just perfect,鈥� said Stewart. 鈥淚 think that people are looking for a straight talker, somebody who is going to speak their mind 鈥� people find that refreshing.鈥�
Stewart, like Trump, is standing by his words, despite those who are critical.
鈥淭hey know that what they see with Donald Trump is what they鈥檙e going to get,鈥� said Stewart.
