It was the moment that could have broken Donald Trump’s presidential ambitions: In June, he likened immigrants to rapists, prompting Univision to ditch his beauty pageants and NBC to cut ties with him.
“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 company said in a statement posted on its website. “We will not be airing the Miss USA pageant on July 12th or working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.”
Trump, of course, survived what at first seemed like a campaign-ending gaffe — and has gone on to survive many more. “Mexican gov doesn’t want me talking about terrible border situation & horrible trade deals,” he said in a defiant tweet. “Forcing Univision to get me to stop — no way!”
But rhetoric is one thing. Could Trump successfully spin the loss of a business deal valued at up to $25 million into political and financial victory in a campaign that, at the time, seemed merely whimsical?
It appears so. With the disastrous Miss Universe 2015 that just unfolded in Las Vegas, Trump won without even being onstage. Even a beauty pageant, it seemed, just couldn’t run smoothly without him around.
Hours before Miss Universe, Trump was cheering it on from the sidelines. After being banished by Univision and exiled from NBC over his anti-immigrant comments, Trump bought the rights to the pageant back from NBC — then flipped it in September to the entertainment company WME-IMG in a matter of days….
Then came the perfect gaffe for Trump supporters to tweet and retweet ad infinitum. Co-host Steve Harvey — a usually unflappable comedian, talk-show host and author — anointed the wrong woman Miss Universe, crowning Miss Colombia instead of the judges’ intended, Miss Philippines.
“Still a great night,” Harvey said — though Miss Colombia might not have agreed as she was almost instantly dethroned. “Please don’t hold it against the ladies. Please don’t. We feel so badly. But it’s still a great night.”
It was the moment that could have broken Donald Trump’s presidential ambitions: In June, he likened immigrants to rapists, prompting Univision to ditch his beauty pageants and NBC to cut ties with him.
“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 company said in a statement posted on its website. “We will not be airing the Miss USA pageant on July 12th or working on any other projects tied to the Trump Organization.”
Trump, of course, survived what at first seemed like a campaign-ending gaffe — and has gone on to survive many more. “Mexican gov doesn’t want me talking about terrible border situation & horrible trade deals,” he said in a defiant tweet. “Forcing Univision to get me to stop — no way!”
[Was Steve Harvey’s Miss Universe mix-up a publicity stunt? Conspiracy theories begin.]
But rhetoric is one thing. Could Trump successfully spin the loss of a business deal valued at up to $25 million into political and financial victory in a campaign that, at the time, seemed merely whimsical?
Steve Harvey announces wrong Miss Universe winner
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Host Steve Harvey mistakenly first announced that Miss Colombia had won the Miss Universe pageant before the true winner, Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was crowned. (Reuters)
It appears so. With the disastrous Miss Universe 2015 that just unfolded in Las Vegas, Trump won without even being onstage. Even a beauty pageant, it seemed, just couldn’t run smoothly without him around.
Hours before Miss Universe, Trump was cheering it on from the sidelines. After being banished by Univision and exiled from NBC over his anti-immigrant comments, Trump bought the rights to the pageant back from NBC — then flipped it in September to the entertainment company WME-IMG in a matter of days.
“My friend, @AriEmanuel of @IMG, bought the Miss Universe pageants from me and they are on tonight on #Fox!” he wrote. “Tune in!”
Then came the perfect gaffe for Trump supporters to tweet and retweet ad infinitum. Co-host Steve Harvey — a usually unflappable comedian, talk-show host and author — anointed the wrong woman Miss Universe, crowning Miss Colombia instead of the judges’ intended, Miss Philippines.
[Steve Harvey crowns wrong Miss Universe]
“Still a great night,” Harvey said — though Miss Colombia might not have agreed as she was almost instantly dethroned. “Please don’t hold it against the ladies. Please don’t. We feel so badly. But it’s still a great night.”
Meanwhile, outside on the Strip, a more serious tragedy was unfolding. In an incident not yet explained by authorities, a driver may have intentionally driven her car on to a sidewalk outside Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, where Miss Universe was held, killing one person and injuring dozens more. Terrorism, though eventually ruled out, was initially a possible motive in what police called a “mass casualty incident.”
