Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump met with Javier Palomarez, CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss a number of issues important to Hispanic voters.
According to a statement by USHCC, the meeting was requested by Trump and lasted more than one hour at the billionaire’s Fifth Avenue office building in New York City. Although USHCC has previously denounced Trump’s rhetoric–particularly on the topic of immigration — as “harsh” and insensitive,” Palomarez reportedly agreed to the meeting after Trump’s advisers stressed that the pair’s disagreement was “based on the media’s mischaracterization of his stances.”
“We wanted to hear Mr. Trump clearly articulate his views, away from the public spectacle, the media, and the debate floor,” read the statement.
Palomarez told CNN Tuesday that he found the “dichotomy between the private Donald Trump and the public Donald Trump” intriguing and noted that the characteristically brash businessman “listened a lot more than he spoke.”
“We did not endorse, support, or give credence to Mr. Trump’s public statements,” wrote USHCC. “Rather, we wanted to do privately what many – including Jorge Ramos most recently – have tried to do publicly: ask Donald Trump for clarity on his policies, how he intends to effectively execute them, and who his policies would impact.”
However, Ramos did come up in conversation.
According to CNN, Palomarez was asked to express his candid thoughts on Trump’s decision to remove the Hispanic news anchor from a recent press conference after he interrupted another journalist without being called on. Later on, the real estate mogul permitted Ramos to re-enter and ask his question.
Palomarez reportedly told Trump that “both sides were at fault.”
“On the one hand, it appeared Jorge spoke out of turn and somewhat commandeered the microphone, and on the other hand, this issue (of immigration) for Jorge Ramos is considerably different for him than most other journalists in the room,” Palomarez said.
He reportedly added, “Donald could have done a better job of hearing him out and allowing him an opportunity to ask his questions.”
Trump’s promise to “win the Hispanic vote” has become a staple of his campaign, but recent polls show how improbable that may be.
Gallup released a survey of Hispanics last Monday in which the billionaire yielded an unfavorability rating of 65 percent. Meanwhile, one of Trump’s leading rivals, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, received an 11-point net-positive rating.
Trump and Palomarez are expected to host a joint Q&A session on Oct. 8 where they will continue their conversation publicly.
