Donald Trump said the Cincinnati Zoo didn't "have a choice" when it killed Harambe, the gorilla that held a young boy who jumped into the exhibit on Saturday.
“I think it’s a very tough call,” Trump said during a press conference. “It was amazing because there were moments with the gorilla, the way he held the child, it was almost like a mother holding a baby. It looked so beautiful and calm.”
Harambe was killed after it dragged the 4-year-old boy who'd crawled through a barrier and fell into the Gorilla World enclosure.
Several news organizations, including CNN, reported the presidential candidate’s comments.
“And there were moments where it looked pretty dangerous,” Trump said. “I don’t think they had a choice.”
PHOTOS: Gorilla killed after child enters his habitat [WHIO]
The presidential candidate was asked about the incident during a press conference about money he said he raised for veterans. Trump spoke for about a minute about the gorilla.
“It’s too bad there wasn’t another way,” he said. “I thought it was so beautiful to watch that powerful, almost 500-pound gorilla, the way he dealt with that little boy.”
The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden confirmed it will move ahead with expansion of its gorilla exhibit despite the incident.
