Is Donald Trump backtracking on his criticism of Mexicans?
Donald Trump says he has great respect for Mexico, despite his earlier comments to the contrary.
Donald Trump says he has great respect for Mexico, despite his earlier comments to the contrary.
Donald Trump鈥檚 recent comments about Mexican immigrants were widely denounced as insulting, but the presidential candidate maintains he did nothing wrong.
In an interview with ABC News, Mr. Trump insisted that he is "absolutely not" anti-Mexican. "I love the Mexican people. I have great respect for Mexico," he said. His pivot may be related to a statement from Univision, announcing that they are backing out of a $15 million deal to air the Miss USA pageant, which Trump partially owns.
In a June 16 speech announcing his 2016 campaign,聽Trump said: 鈥淲hen Mexico sends its people, they鈥檙e not sending their best.... They鈥檙e sending people that have lots of problems..... They鈥檙e bringing drugs. They鈥檙e bringing crime. They鈥檙e rapists.聽And some, I assume, are good people."
Later he said he is not against Mexicans, but US-Mexico trade deals and existing US immigration policies.
The Republican candidate told ABC on Thursday he does not regret what he said during his speech. 鈥淚 said it about people from all over. I didn鈥檛 say it about Mexico. I said from people all over.鈥�
He insists his remarks were not insulting, but others disagree.
On June 25 the largest American Spanish-language network, Univision, announced it will not televise Donald Trump鈥檚 annual Miss USA pageant on July 12.
Trump says he is going to sue Univision for violating a multi-million dollar broadcast deal.
He also sent a letter to Univision on Friday banning all of the channel鈥檚 executives from using Trump's golf course in Miami.
The American tycoon added this PS to his letter to the Univision CEO:
Trump accuses Univision of being biased in favor of Mexico鈥檚 national interests, and even encouraged a Univision boycott.
Unlike the walled-off future Trump envisions, US-Mexico relations have grown closer in recent years, and President Obama recently said he anticipates more trade and job opportunities聽in both countries聽鈥� a vision Trump clearly does not share.