It looks like Donald Trump is no longer the one doing the firing. After 11 years of being tied to Trump via his shows “The Apprentice” and “Celebrity Apprentice,” NBC announced yesterday that it will no longer work with the presidential hopeful.
The decision comes two weeks after Trump announced his bid for the presidency. The much-discussed speech included the following passage:
When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people. But I speak to border guards and they tell us what we’re getting. And it only makes common sense. It only makes common sense. They’re sending us not the right people….I will build a great, great wall on our southern border. And I will have Mexico pay for that wall.
The network’s statement said, “At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values. Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump.”
The Apprentice franchise is owned by United Artists Media Group, and it appears that it will continue to air without Trump’s involvement. NBCUniversal will no longer air Trump’s Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants on any of its channels. Stateside network Univision and Mexican channel Televisa also dropped the Miss Universe pageant. Televissa said in a statement: “Mr. Trump has not shown understanding and respect for Mexican migrants and has offended the entire Mexican population.”
Trump released a statement yesterday in response to NBC:
As of today, Donald J. Trump is no longer affiliated with NBC. Mr. Trump stands by his statements on illegal immigration, which are accurate. NBC is weak, and like everybody else is trying to be politically correct—that is why our country is in serious trouble.
Mr. Trump says, “We must have strong borders and not let illegal immigrants enter the United States. As has been stated continuously in the press, people are pouring across our borders unabated. Public reports routinely state great amounts of crime are being committed by illegal immigrants. This must be stopped and it must be stopped now. Long ago I told NBC that I would not being doing The Apprentice because I am running for President in order to Make our Country Great Again.”
Mr. Trump continued, “If NBC is so weak and so foolish to not understand the serious illegal immigration problem in the United States, coupled with the horrendous and unfair trade deals we are making with Mexico, then their contract violating closure of Miss Universe/Miss USA will be determined in court. Furthermore, they will stand behind lying Brian Williams, but won’t stand behind people that tell it like it is, as unpleasant as that may be.”