Watch CBS News

Eric Trump Defends Brother's Comments Likening Refugees To Poisoned Skittles

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA/AP) – Donald Trump's son, Eric, is defending his older brother's controversial comments posted to Twitter, likening Syrian refugees to a bowl of poisoned Skittles.

Seeking to promote his father's presidential campaign, Donald Trump Jr. posted a tweet featuring a bowl of the candy Skittles with the message: "If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three would kill you, would you take a handful? That's our Syrian refugee problem."

The tweet on the verified @DonaldJTrumpJr handle read: "This image says it all. Let's end the politically correct agenda that doesn't put America first."

Before his visit to Pittsburgh Wednesday, Eric Trump told KDKA Morning News that there is truth to his brother's comments.

"I think the analogy has some real meaning to it," said Eric.

He says Hillary Clinton wants to allow 650,000 Syrian refuges into the United States and that FBI and CIA directors have said there will be ISIS terrorists among those refuges.

"The number one job of the commander-in-chief of the United States is to protect the people of this country, and if you know that you're going to have fringe elements of terrorism within those people, you can't do it," said Eric Trump.

Eric says the situation with refugees that need help can't be ignored, and his father's plan is to "build safe zones.

"Let's protect these people, let's make sure that they're well fed, and security, and that there are no more atrocities against them," he said.

Eric says his older brother's point with the Skittles tweet is that, "If we know that there are going to be bad apples in that group and they're going to harm hard-working Americans, we simply can't let them into this country."

He says the problem can be solved overseas.

"We can do it over there and we don't need to put Americans at risk by letting 650,000 refuges into this nation," Eric added.

Listen to the KDKA Morning News with Larry Richert and John Shumway weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m. on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA.

Like NewsRadio 1020 KDKA On Facebook
Follow NewsRadio 1020 KDKA On Twitter

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.