Just moments after NBC cut ties with Donald Trump, the 2016 Republican presidential candidate insists that it was he who dropped them. He said in a statement that it was actually his decision to leave Celebrity Apprentice while he’s running for the Oval Office.
NBC announced that it would not air the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants in response to Trump’s remarks about Mexican immigrants earlier this month when he announced his campaign. That decision came a few days after Univision did the same.
Trump was speaking at an event in Chicago while NBC’s decision was announced and he quickly pounced on the network.
“They did not want me to run. They wanted me to do The Apprentice. And now with my statements on immigration which happen to be correct, they are going to take a different stance and that’s OK. Whatever they want to do is OK with me,” Trump said, reports The Hollywood Reporter. “As far as ending the relationship, I have to do that because my view on immigration is much different than the people at NBC."
Trump’s office also sent a statement to Politico, calling the network “weak” and “trying to be politically correct.” In this statement, Trump also took a swipe at the network for keeping Brian Williams around.
“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,” Trump stated. “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.”
NBC did say that Celebrity Apprentice will continue without Trump.
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