(AP) Donald Trump during the Republican debate on Thursday August 6, 2015.
Donald Trump was challenged about one of his most explosive claims regarding immigrants from Mexico during the Fox News' Republican presidential debate on Thursday.
Despite being repeatedly pressed, Trump was seemingly unable to provide real proof for his allegation the Mexican government is deliberately "sending" criminals and other "bad" people to the United States through the US-Mexico border.
Trump first claimed Mexico is "sending people that have lots of problems" to the US at his presidential announcement in June. He said the people being sent across the border by Mexico include "rapists" and people who are "bringing crime" and "bringing drugs." These comments subsequently sparked a massive firestorm. Despite the controversy, Trump doubled down on his claim in an interview with Business Insider and other statements.
During the debate, which featured the 10 candidates leading in polls of the GOP primary, moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump to provide evidence backing up his accusation.
"Why not use this first Republican debate to share your proof with the American people?" Wallace asked.
Trump dodged the question and instead claimed his comments have helped bring the issue of illegal immigration into the headlines.
"If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be talking about illegal immigration Chris. You wouldn't even be talking about it," Trump said. "This was not a subject that was on anybody's mind till I brought it up at my announcement and I said, 'Mexico is sending.' Except the reporters, because they're a very dishonest lot generally speaking in the world of politics, they didn't cover my statement the way I said it. The fact is, since then, many killings, murders, crime, drugs pouring across the border, our money going out and the drugs coming in."
Trump went on to reiterate his desire to build a wall across the border with Mexico. However, he suggested he's open to allowing more people to enter the country from Mexico legally.
Nothing in Trump's response addressed Wallace's question about whether he has any proof to support his allegations about the Mexican government.
(Thomson Reuters) Businessman and Republican candidate for president Trump speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Laconia
"I said we need to build a wall and it has to be built quickly," Trump said. "And I don't mind having a big beautiful door in that wall so that people can come into this country legally, but we need ... to build a wall. We need to keep illegals out."