Cheryl Burke Steps Down As Miss USA Co-Host Following Donald Trump’s Offensive Comments

Cheryl Burke has stepped down as Miss USA co-host following Donald Trump’s offensive comments about Mexico during his Presidential announcement.

Cheryl Burke Won’t Host Miss USA

Trump made derogatory comments during his speech at his campaign kick off event in New York City, calling Mexican immigrants “rapists,” among other things. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best… They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing their problems with [them]. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump stated in his announcement speech.

Many took offense with his comments, and, in the weeks that followed Trump’s entrance into the Republican Presidential race, public pressure has led to NBC cutting ties with Trump entirely, meaning that he will no longer be associated with their hit show The Apprentice and the network will no longer be airing his beauty pageant, Miss USA. The Miss USA Pageant was set to air on NBC July 12.

Following NBC’s announcement, Burke, who was set to act as co-host of the pageant, officially announced she, too, would be cutting ties with Trump and Miss USA. “In light of the recent statements made by Donald Trump and the subsequent decision by NBC to cut ties with Mr. Trump, I cannot in good conscience move forward with participating in this year’s Miss USA Pageant as its co-host. Effective today I have withdrawn from my duties with Miss USA,” she wrote on Facebook.

Burke’s co-host, Thomas Roberts of MSNBC, also withdrew from the beauty pageant. Both Roberts and Burke wished the contestants well on social media.

Donald Trump Stands By Mexico Comments

The news of Burke’s decision to leave Miss USA comes after Univision, which was set to air a Spanish broadcast of the pageant, cancelled their simulcast due to Trump’s statements, which many consider to be racist and unacceptable. Trump has refused to apologize for calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and criminals, claiming he was not being racist, but stating facts about illegal immigration in the U.S. “I love the Mexican people, but Mexico is not our friend. They’re killing us at the border and they’re killing us on jobs and trade. FIGHT!” he tweeted on Tuesday.