I think this validates OP's point. He never said all Mexicans are rapists etc, he was speaking about border security and describing the people illegally entering the country through the Southern Border. One of many soundbites spun into a scandal by the media and used to dehumanize him.
His supporters understood what he meant, his detractors took the media spin hook, line, and sinker.
News does this all the time to generate outrage, both left and right leaning, and I absolutely HATE it. Particularly in the Trump and "fake news" era because it leaves them incredibly vulnerable to the criticism. "See! The fake-news, always lying!". Makes it easy to discredit their larger, more serious reporting by picking on these smaller transgressions.
It's not racist because of the exact words said, it's racist because of the obvious consequences. There are ways to talk about difficult issues. Trump empowered the worst people to come out from hiding.
The hook, line, and sinker is when he said, "and some, I assume, are good people." It's tantamount to, "I'm not racist. I have a black friend."
He didn't say it, he insinuated it.
Is that really so different?
Yes he did.