Joining the boycotting masses? After weeks of drama and ensuing production shuffles, Donald Trump skipped the Miss USA pageant, held in Baton Rouge, La., on Sunday, July 12.
As previously reported, the beauty pageant moved to the Reelz network after it was dropped by NBC and Univision, and found replacements for the hosts and judges who pulled out of the competition following Trump’s headline-making words about immigrants from Mexico. The Apprentice star, 69, stood by his controversial statement in recent days, defending his choice to pin said immigrants as “rapists” and “killers.”
While the Miss USA show went on, recruiting Todd Newton and Alex Wehrley as hosts and lining up a judging panel of past pageant winners, Trump chose not to attend the event in spite of his position as co-owner of the Miss Universe organization. The real estate mogul was noticeably absent from the Baton Rouge River Center as the 51 contestants strutted their stuff on the stage, choosing instead to attend a rally in support of his presidential campaign.
“I will not be able to attend the Miss USA pageant tomorrow night because I am campaigning in Phoenix,” the father of five tweeted on Saturday, July 11. “Wishing all well!”
Trump continued his controversial emphasis on immigration in his speech to thousands in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, adding of Mexico, “They’re killing us at the border and killing us in trade.”
As the Miss USA pageant kicked off, Trump was active on Twitter but focused his attention on politics and media matters rather than the show. The field was narrowed from 51 to 15 women while the businessman targeted political competitors Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton and Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd in tweets.
Can you envision Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton negotiating with ‘El Chapo’, the Mexican drug lord who escaped from prison? ….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
…Trump, however, would kick his ass!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
I hear that sleepy eyes @chucktodd will be fired like a dog from ratings starved Meet The Press? I can’t imagine what is taking so long!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
