During Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate, Donald Trump was asked, “If the Mexicans don’t pay for the wall, will you start a trade war with Mexico?”
His answer was muddled, but the the Republican frontrunner said, “They’re taking our businesses. I don’t mind.”
Marco Rubio replied, “If he builds the wall the way he built Trump Towers, he’ll be using illegal immigrant labor to do it.”
Thirty-five years ago, a small army of illegal immigrants was used to clear the site for what became the crown jewel of Donald Trump’s empire. The 200 demolition workers—nicknamed the Polish Brigade because of their home country—worked 12-hour shifts, seven days a week with no overtime to knock down the old Bonwit Teller building and make room for Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. According to testimony in a protracted civil suit in federal court, the laborers were paid $5 an hour or less when they were paid at all. Some went unpaid after the contractor had financial troubles. A few never received even the paltry sum that was owed them for their dirty and hazardous efforts preceding the construction of Trump’s monument to his own wealth. “They were undocumented and worked ‘off the books,'” Manhattan federal Judge Charles Stewart said of the workers after they became the subject of a 1983 lawsuit. “No records were kept, no Social Security or other taxes were withheld.”
Rubio added, “I don’t understand, because your clothes and the tie you wear are made in Mexico and in China. You’ll be starting a trade war against your own clothes and suits.”
Rubio also referenced the issues with Trump University. Trump said, “They actually did a very good job. I won most of the lawsuits.”
