JULY 1, 2015
The fallout from Donald Trump’s now-notorious “They’re Rapists” announcement speech continued to grow today. First, Univision, which regularly aired Trump’s “Miss USA” and “Miss Universe” pageants, withdrew their sponsorship and announced that the Spanish-language network would no longer televise the events.
Yesterday NBC followed suit, cancelling their airing of the pageants and severing all ties with Trump, including his “Celebrity Apprentice” series, which will continue at a future date with another host.
Today, Macy’s joined the parade, announcing that they will no longer sell Trump’s line of made-in-China shirts and ties, which they have carried since 2004. And four separate pro golf associations signed a joint statement distancing them from Trump and the golf courses he owns. (When a Republican loses the golfers, that’s trouble!)
Trump responded in his characteristic way — attack! He alleged that Univision is only doing the Mexican government’s bidding and filed a lawsuit against the network for $500 million for dropping his pageants. Macy’s, according to Trump, is “a small business” that “supports illegal immigration.” Of the golf associations, Trump assures us that “they all know I’m right.” (The golf associations subsequently released a joint statement saying that no, “Trump does not reflect the views of our organizations.”) Only NBC has escaped Trump’s vitriol so far, noting that Trump still has “a good relationship” with the Peacock Network. Evidently, that’s one bridge that Trump is unwilling to burn. Yet.
While these withdrawals may put a small dent in Trump’s self-proclaimed “huge” financial empire, it may be a small price to pay for the opportunity to play the “Trump-as-liberal-media-victim” card, which is right in the wheelhouse of many GOP primary voters. Indeed, it has already propelled Trump to #2 in respected polls in Iowa, New Hampshire and nationally. How long Trump can keep up this act is anybody’s guess — probably as long as there are media outlets willing to attack him.
While I admire the companies who put their money where their mouth is this time in distancing themselves from Trump, one small question. Where the hell were they when Trump was peddling his birther crap in 2012? Just asking.
