Univision Ditches Trump’s Miss USA Pageant Over His Immigrant Bashing

Donald Trump greets supporters on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, at the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (AP Photo/Randall Hill)
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The Spanish-language broadcaster Univision announced on Thursday that it would be severing all ties with real-estate mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump, including the upcoming Miss USA pageant, after his remarks calling Mexican immigrants rapists and drug addicts.

“Today, the entertainment division of Univision Communications Inc. announced that it is ending the Company’s business relationship with the Miss Universe Organization, which is part-owned by Donald J. Trump, based on his recent, insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants,” the company said in a press release.

Trump had branded Mexican immigrants as drug-peddlers, criminals and “rapists” when he announced his 2016 presidential run last week.

“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some I assume are good people,” Trump said. “But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. It only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people.”

The broadcaster said on Thursday that this did not square with its view on Mexican immigrants.

“At Univision, we see first-hand the work ethic, love for family, strong religious values and the important role Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans have had and will continue to have in building the future of our country,” the statement added.

Univision said it will not air the Trump-owned Miss USA pageant on July 12, nor will it associate with any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.

It added that it would continue to cover Trump’s presidential run, “to ensure our audience continues to have access to all points of view.”

Trump, of course, responded, saying the breakup had to do with his stance on trade with Mexico. He hit back first on Twitter and then in an interview with Politico’s Dylan Byers:

Trump said any “normal politician” would have “immediately folded and said, ‘Oh, gee, we’re sorry’ and apologized and let this rip-off continue,” and singled out Jeb Bush: “Anyone else would be subservient to that. Bush would say, I’m sorry, keep ripping us off.”

Trump’s tweets are below:

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