ELECTIONS

Donald Trump tweets his Arizona immigration speech is on

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez
The Republic | azcentral.com
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, seen here speaking in Phoenix in June, says he will visit Arizona on August 31.
  • Trump has been to Arizona four times during his bid for the White House

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted Sunday that he plans to deliver a speech on illegal immigration in Phoenix on Wednesday, apparently resolving conflicting messages from his campaign over whether Trump would stop in Arizona this week and the nature of the visit.

“I will be making a major speech on ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION on Wednesday in the GREAT State of Arizona,” Trump posted on Twitter Sunday afternoon. “Big crowds, looking for a larger venue.”

Details of the event's location were not immediately available.

Trump's scheduled appearance comes as questions about his stance on illegal immigration have deepened after he said he was open to “softening” his policies toward undocumented immigrants — a frequent target of his rhetoric.

His choice of Arizona as a backdrop is notable given that the state's immigration-policy skirmishes in recent years have clearly influenced Trump's positions.

If he indeed takes the stage here, he could be joined by illegal-immigration hardliners and supporters Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who faces mounting legal troubles, and former Gov. Jan Brewer.

Donald Trump casts shadow over Arizona primary elections

A federal judge has issued a criminal referral against Arpaio and others on suspicion of contempt and perjury in connection with an eight-year civil lawsuit accusing the Sheriff's Office of targeting Hispanics via racial profiling.

Trump's Sunday tweet follows days of conflicting messages about a Phoenix campaign stop.

Last week, his campaign issued contradictory messages about whether Trump would return to the state for a fifth campaign stop and the purpose of the visit.

On Wednesday, Trump event planners said the business mogul would deliver a much-anticipated speech on immigration at a downtown Phoenix hotel to more fully lay out his policy agenda, but walked that back within hours. Trump’s Arizona chief said the speech would focus on “post-primary unity.”

On Friday, the chief said the event was going to be scrapped altogether. But within less than two hours, Trump tweeted his intent to travel to Phoenix.

"Will be in Phoenix, Arizona on Wednesday," Trump tweeted. "Changing venue to much larger one. Demand is unreal. Polls looking great!"

Brian Seitchik, Trump’s Arizona state director, who had confirmed cancellation of the event Friday afternoon, did not respond to calls to clarify, leaving it unresolved until Trump tweeted on Sunday afternoon his plans to speak in Phoenix.

Trump has campaigned in Arizona four times since declaring his candidacy for the White House.

A CNN poll of Arizona last week showed him leading Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but within the survey's margin of error, meaning it's statistically possible the candidates are running even in reliably red-state Arizona.

Donald Trump casts shadow over Arizona primary elections

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