'I never read Mein Kampf!' Trump gets defensive as he repeats 'blood' comments

At a GOP Iowa caucus preparation event on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump reiterated his claim about migrants harming the "blood" of America — and immediately went on the defensive following days of critical press coverage and experts saying his rhetoric was oddly similar to that used by Adolf Hitler in "Mein Kampf."

"I never read Mein Kampf," insisted Trump.

The former president, however, has long been dogged by allegations of fascination with the Nazi dictator, including a 1990s claim by his deceased ex-wife Ivana Trump, who claimed he kept Hitler speeches by his bed.

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Trump went on to repeat his frequent allegation that Central American countries are deliberately sending problem elements of their society to the U.S. border. "They're coming from jails, they're coming from mental institutions." He added that people don't want him to say "insane asylums."

Republicans have broadly leapt to Trump's defense over his claim immigrants are "poisoning the blood" of the country.

Earlier this week, when pressed on the issue, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) refused to condemn the language, saying only that most Americans agreed with Trump on the border.