Amidst all of the criticism Donald Trump has received for comments he made about Mexican immigrants during his presidential campaign announcement, a former Miss USA is standing behind him.
Chelsea Cooley Altman, who was crowned in 2005, appeared on CNN’s “New Day” on Wednesday to defend Trump in the wake of NBC cutting ties with the mogul and his Miss USA pageant, which was set to air July 12.
“I think he has made it very clear he supports the Mexican people, that he loves the Mexican people,” Altman said. “He has no problem with anyone wanting to come and immigrate to America that wants to live out the American dream and make America great again, that’s what he is so focused on in this presidential run.”
Altman explained that what Trump was addressing in his speech was the greater problem of border control, and since he wants to protect the country from dangerous immigrants, he has no reason to apologize.
“If he stands behind something he believes in, should he apologize?” she asked.
Altman appeared on the cable news network to defend Trump again while speaking to CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin.
“In his comments, to me, it seemed like he was inclusive of anyone and everyone that would be considered a rapist, a murderer, a terrorist — not just Mexican people,” Altman said in reference to the real estate mogul’s controversial remarks made during his presidential campaign announcement speech.
“When Mexico sends its people … 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,” Trump said last month.
When Baldwin pressed back that he was “pretty specific when he referenced Mexicans and calling them rapists,” Altman said Trump still makes a solid presidential candidate.
“I think he has his sights set on making America great again, and in doing so, I think protecting our countries at the borders is a big part of that,” Altman said. “I don’t think we can limit that to one group of people or one culture. I think anyone that has an intent to do something bad … regardless of their cultural background is someone we need to be aware of.”
Last week, Univision announced that it was dropping the Spanish-language simulcast of the Miss USA pageant, of which Trump is a part owner, citing his “insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants” as the reason.
On Monday, NBC announced it was also ending its business relationship with Trump, saying it would no longer air Miss USA. The network also fired Trump as the host of the hit reality series “Celebrity Apprentice.”
Watch Altman on “New Day” above, then watch her interview with Baldwin below.