Trump Jr. defends Skittles tweet at Boise campaign stop

Donald Trump Jr. says he was sharing a metaphor about risk when he compared Syrian refugees to a poisoned bowl of Skittles candy earlier this week.

The eldest son of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said Thursday in Boise that he is surprised by the reaction to tweet because he viewed the social media post as raising concern about properly vetting people who come to the United States.

Trump Jr. tweeted on Monday a picture of a bowl of Skittles with the warning, “If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three would kill you, would you take a handful?” The tweet went on: “That’s our Syrian refugee problem.”

Boise has recently resettled more Syrian refugees than Los Angeles and New York City combined.

Roughly 20 protesters holding signs and Skittles stood outside the event.