Spanish-language broadcaster Univision today said that it will not air next month’s Miss USA beauty pageant, due to “insulting remarks about Mexican immigrants” made by presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is part-owner of the event’s parent company. Univision also said that it was ending its broader partnership with the group.
In response, Trump claimed that Univision had folded under pressure from the Mexican government:
Mexican gov doesn't want me talking about terrible border situation & horrible trade deals. Forcing Univision to get me to stop- no way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2015
Univision wants to back out of signed @MissUniverse contract because I exposed the terrible trade deals that the U.S. Makes with Mexico.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 25, 2015
Leaving aside the head-shaking hilarity of Trump continuing to sidestep his noxious comments (rather than apologize), the simple fact is that Mexico’s government has no actual stake in Univision.
The New York-based broadcaster, which is prepping a big IPO, was acquired in early 2007 by a private equity consortium that included American firms Madison Dearborn Partners (Chicago), Providence Equity Partners (Providence), TPG Capital (Dallas) and Thomas H. Lee Partners (Boston). Also participating were the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, a public pension system in Canada, and AlpInvest, which at the time was primarily managing money for two large public pensions in The Netherlands.
So, if Trump really thinks he’s being shunned due to his criticism of U.S. Trade deals, perhaps his real gripe is with the Canadian and Dutch governments, not the Mexican one…