Donald Trump's Anti-Immigrant Remarks Spark Outrage in Mexico
By Jon Hecht
Real estate mogul, Apprentice host, and 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants, which described them as “rapists” and people who bring drugs and crime into the U.S., hasn’t just drawn outrage from Hispanic individuals and organizations in the U.S. The Mexican government, its news outlets, and stars are also furious with Trump.
Trump’s controversial remarks, which Thursday led Univision to announce it would no longer simulcast the July 12 Miss USA pageant and that it is ending its business relationship with Trump, came during his speech last week announcing his presidential candidacy.
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Mexican Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, President Enrique Peña Nieto’s right-hand man, called Trump’s comments “prejudiced and absurd.”
Joaquin Lopez Doriga, news anchor at top network Televisa, referred to Trump as “an opportunist” and “imbecile." Televisa is Univision’s partner and main content supplier.
And the Mexican daily El Universal ran an opinion piece with the headline: "Trump: Rich, Ignorant, and Dangerous.”
Even Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro chimed in, calling the GOP candidate a “bandit” in reference to his business practices.
Read More: Univision Ends Miss Universe Deal After Donald Trump’s “Rapists” Immigrant Remarks
Eugenio Derbez, Mexico’s most bankable star and director of the box office hit Instructions Not Included, applauded Univision’s decision on Twitter.
This is not the first time this year that The Donald has angered Mexico. After filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu won a best picture Oscar for Birdman, Trump drew the ire of Mexicans for a controversial comment made on Fox News the day after the awards ceremony.
“This guy [Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu] kept getting up and up and up,” Trump said. “And I said, ‘What is he doing? He’s walking away with all the gold.’”
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