Donald Trump’s presidential campaign announcement comments about Mexico and the quality of the current inflow of unauthorized Mexican immigrants to the U.S. have caused a firestorm in national Spanish-language media.
Telemundo has spent the most time so far raking Trump over the coals for his remarks, and MundoFox anchor Rolando Nichols took Trump’s remarks personally.
MARIA CELESTE ARRARAS, TELEMUNDO ANCHOR: he’s entering the race for the White House, and he did so with a very offensive speech against Mexico and Mexican immigrants, assuring that they bring drugs, he said, and that they are criminals. And that they are rapists
ROLANDO NICHOLS, MUNDOFOX ANCHOR: the millionaire who is now running for the presidency of the country said yesterday that we Mexicans are rapists, that we are criminals.
Telemundo’s coverage included an unauthorized immigrant’s reaction that “I’m not a rapist, I’m not a criminal, and if my only crime was to have sought a better life in this country, then it’s a crime that many of us commit.”
“Whoever wants to be President of this country cannot be an enemy of immigrants and Latinos,” thundered the Florida Immigrant Coalition’s Natalia Jaramillo, in comments to Telemundo’s Rogelio Mora-Tagle.
Only MundoFox noted that Trump’s characterization of current unauthorized Mexican immigrants to the U.S. as being “people that have lots of problems...they’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists” was not unqualifiedly negative, as he also immediately added “and some, I assume, are good people.”
On the campaign trail after his announcement speech, Trump actually upgraded his assessment somewhat. “I’m sure good people are getting in also,” Trump told his interviewers on Fox and Friends.
However, on day two of Trump campaign coverage, the blanket “anti-immigrant, anti-Latino” characterization of Trump’s remarks continued to be the order of the day on Telemundo, where correspondent Lori Montenegro reported that “Trump, who aspires to the presidency as a Republican, again repeated that Mexico only sends drug traffickers and rapists.”
Telemundo anchor José Díaz-Balart made a point of contrasting Trump with Jeb Bush, declaring that “while one candidate launches his race for the White House offending immigrants, the other says everybody should have the opportunity to attain the American Dream.”
In view of the prevailing narrative on these networks, Trump’s opening campaign statement effectively morphed from a condemnation of the perceived prevalence of undesirable elements among unauthorized immigrants entering the country to an offensive statement against immigrants in general, particularly Mexican immigrants.
Meanwhile, Telemundo correspondent Rogelio Mora-Tagle also drew attention to Trump’s negative assessment of Mexico as a threat to U.S. economic interests, reporting that “he has also said Mexico is not a friend of the country, because it is killing the economy of his country.”
In addition to Telemundo, Univision and MundoFox also reported on Trump’s pledge to build a “great wall” along the United States’ southern border
The relevant portions of the principal national evening newscasts on Telemundo, Univision and MundoFox are transcribed below.
Noticiero Telemundo June 16, 2015
MARIA CELESTE ARRARAS, ANCHOR: Today, magnate Donald Trump confirmed that he’s entering the race for the White House, and he did so with a very offensive speech against Mexico and Mexican immigrants, assuring that they bring drugs, he said, and that they are criminals. And that they are rapists
JOSE DIAZ-BALART, ANCHOR: They are comments that for many, very many, antagonize us Latinos, whose votes are necessary for anyone aspiring to the presidency of the United States. Rogelio Mora-Tagle accompanies us with more.
ROGELIO MORA-TAGLE, CORRESPONDENT: That’s right, José and María Celeste. Recently, Donald Trump bought this golf club, here in Miami, one of the most important in the country. And now he’s entering the presidential race. He says the American dream is dead and practically says it has been China and Mexico that have been responsible for killing the economy of the United States. Popular, multimillionaire and now presidential candidate, Donald Trump announced his intentions to make it to the White House with an incendiary speech directed in significant measure against Mexico and Mexicans that immigrate to the United States.
TRUMP: They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.
ROGELIO MORA-TAGLE: Trump spoke vehemently. Julio crossed the border without documents in 2005.
JULIO CALDERON, IMMIGRANT: I’m not a rapist, I’m not a criminal, and if my only crime was to have sought a better life in this country, then it’s a crime that many of us commit.
ROGELIO MORA-TAGLE: The magnate assured that, if elected, he’ll build a great wall on the border against Mexico. He also warned that, if he makes it to the White House, he will immediately end the Executive Orders on immigration signed by President Obama.
NATALIA JARAMILLO, COMMS. MANAGER, FLORIDA IMMIGRANT COALITION: Whoever wants to be President of this country cannot be an enemy of immigrants and Latinos.
ROGELIO MORA-TAGLE: And he also said Mexico is not a friend of the country, because it is killing the economy of his country...
Noticiero Univision 06/16/2015
JORGE RAMOS: Donald Trump again speaks offensively about Mexicans, during the launch of his Republican Party presidential campaign.
MARIA ELENA SALINAS, ANCHOR: After saying that’d do it for many years, Donald Trump has finally entered politics. The multi-millionaire entrepreneur formally announced his presidential candidacy for the Republican Party, hoping to restore the greatness of the country, and that he doesn’t need donors for his campaign. Once again, he used strong words to criticize Mexican immigrants. Malena Marcha has the following report.
MALANA MARCHAN: ...Donald Trump propelled his international popularity with the reality show, “The Apprentice,” in which he taught the secrets of being rich. He amassed thousands of millions of dollars in real state, owner of buildings and resorts throughout many parts of the world. But, if he pretended to make businesses in Mexico, his words today were not exactly good ones.
DONALD TRUMP: When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best. They are not sending you. They are not sending you. They are sending people that have lots of problems, and they are bringing those problems to us. They are bringing drugs, they are bringing crime, their rapists.
MALANA MARCHAN: This is not the first time that the new aspirant to the White House expresses openly his disdain for Mexican immigrants. Last January, during the Freedom Summit in Iowa he said clearly how to solve the issue.
DONALD TRUMP: We have to build a fence, and it’s got to be a beauty. Who can build better than Trump? I build. It’s what I do. I build, I build.
Noticias MundoFox 06/16/2015
CAROLINA SARASSA, ANCHOR: This millionaire we were listening to is running for the presidency of this country. However, he spoke terribly about Mexicans. We are talking about the well-known entrepreneur Donald Trump, who affirmed that immigrants bring drugs, crimes, are rapists, and I suppose, some of them are good people, he added. These are the words Trump used when he officially announced his campaign for the presidency. This multi-millionaire filled his mouth saying that Mexico sends to the United States people who have problems, characterizing Mexican immigrants as rapists and criminals.
DONALD TRUMP: I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.
CAROLINA SARASSA: The candidate said he supports the construction of a wall on the southern border, and that Mexico should pay for it. His words have been echoed by some people, but for others they have awakened bad feelings and even laughter…
Noticiero Telemundo 06/17/2015
JOSE DIAZ-BALART: While one candidate launches his race for the White House offending immigrants, the other says everybody should have the opportunity to attain the American Dream.
MARIA CELESTE ARRARAS: …today magnate Donald Trump, who aspires to the presidency of the United States, repeated his disrespectful comments about Mexicans assuring that he doesn’t care whether they cost him votes or not…
LORI MONTENEGRO:...Today Trump, who aspires to the presidency as a Republican, again repeated that Mexico only sends drug traffickers and rapists.
Noticias Mundo Fox 17 de junio de 2015
ROLANDO NICHOLS,ANCHOR: ..how seriously should be taken Donald Trump and his racist comments?...the millionaire who is now running for the presidency of the country said yesterday that we Mexicans are rapists, that we are criminals...
