WASHINGTON – Republican Donald Trump says that his attacks on the judge handling the Trump University case have been “misconstrued.”

Trump said in a lengthy statement Tuesday afternoon that “it is unfortunate” his comments “have been misconstrued as a categorical attack against people of Mexican heritage.”

Trump, who has proposed building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, has complained repeatedly that federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel is biased against him and cited his Mexican heritage. Curiel was born in the U.S.

His comments have sparked a backlash among members of the Republican Party, House Speaker Paul Ryan saying Tuesday that they are “the textbook definition of racist comments.”

Trump said in his statement, “I do not feel that one’s heritage makes them incapable of being impartial,” but said that he feels justified to question whether he is receiving a fair trial based on the ruling.

Republican Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois says Donald Trump’s comments are un-American and he cannot support the presumptive presidential nominee.

This is a reversal for Kirk, one of the more endangered GOP incumbents, who had said recently he would support Trump.

In a statement Tuesday, Kirk said that Trump’s “belief that an American-born judge of Mexican descent is incapable of fairly presiding over his case is not only dead wrong, it is un-American.”

The only black Republican senator says Donald Trump’s comments are “racially toxic.”

Still, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott says he’s supporting Trump for president.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Scott said Trump needs to focus on the general election and “we need to win.”