On Wednesday, Maricopa County, Arizona, sheriff Joe Arpaio joined conservative radio host Howie Carr for the anti-immigrant hate group Federation for American Immigration Reform’s annual “Hold Their Feet to the Fire” radio row to discuss Arpaio’s self-styled “concentration camp” and his endorsement of Donald Trump.
“You know, the usual suspects and the lawyers are coming into court and saying that the inmates are suffering terribly in your jails with the extreme weather in Arizona, you know,” Carr said. “Yeah, that always brings a smile to my face when I read these stories.”
Arpaio defended his methods. “I know, I was just in the tents two days ago, it was 136 degrees and I drank the Gatorade that I gave all the inmates, so you know what my answer is? Our men and women are fighting for our country, uh, live in tents, so shut your mouth,” Arpaio said, reminding Carr that “all these other guys are convicted.”
Arpaio, who notoriously makes inmates wear pink underwear and socks, said he is planning to add U.S. flags to their uniforms.
“I’ll give you a scoop: I’m going to put American flags — I was going to do it on my birthday but I didn’t want to get involved because of what happened in Florida — but on Fourth of July, every inmate is going to wear an American flag on their uniform.”
“So it was 136 degrees in those tents the last time you were in there, huh?” Carr asked.
“Two days ago,” Arpaio responded.
“Oh, my heart’s breaking,” Carr joked. “I wish we could cue some violin music here, it’s so terrible. This is cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of their Eighth Amendment rights, you know, come on, Sheriff.”
After laughing, Arpaio said, “Well, that’s the way it is.”
Arpaio also praised Donald Trump, claiming that while he has fallen behind Hillary Clinton in recent polling, his numbers have been “pretty good with all the heat he’s been taking. So he’ll come back strong, he’s a winner, and I like the guy, he’s the only candidate that I’ve endorsed that I really, really – I like ‘em all, but I really, this is something special that I noticed in him. He’s a great guy and a fighter and he’s gonna win.”
Arpaio boasted to Carr that he had “chewed out some Republicans at a Trump rally” he spoke at in Arizona on Saturday, criticizing them for offering only tepid endorsements of the presumptive GOP nominee.
“They always say they’re gonna endorse the nominee,” Arpaio said. “I guess when you endorse someone, should you not mention the name of the guy you’re endorsing, at least build up his name ID? Why wouldn’t they say, ‘I’m endorsing Donald Trump for president?’ Why is it always ‘the nominee’ without using his name? You know why and I know why.”
Arpaio continued, “Let’s knock off the personal feelings, let’s knock off the jealousy. Let’s, you know, forget that you have losers out there. He’s a winner, and let’s get with him.”
