Trump On ‘Latino Legal Residents Versus Illegals’: Walters’ Guest Nets ’20/20′ 7M Viewers
Donald Trump expounded on how Latino legal residents love him because they don’t want illegals to take their jobs away. Featured on ABC’s 20/20 Friday night, November 21, 2015, the real estate mogul’s interview with Barbara Walters, 86, garnered a viewership of 7 million, the news program’s second highest rating of the season, behind an installment of Leah Remini.
According to Variety, Barbara Walters’ chat with G.O.P. presidential aspirant Donald Trump, 69, and his family caused 20/20 numbers to surge up (1.4/5 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall). The news program, which allowed Trump to show his respect for Latino legal residents, explain his opposition to Syrian refugees, and give viewers a glimpse of his family, hit a season high.
Barbara Walters took Trump back to the launch of his campaign, when he railed on illegals not being the best Mexico has to offer, bringing drugs and rapists across the border, to the detriment of Latino legal residents. His remarks to ABC News were consistent with his campaign opener.
“The people that are here legally, Hispanics, like me because they don’t want people coming in and taking their jobs.”
After calling Trump out on his brash remarks that drew some Latino backlash, even if he only targeted non-legal residents, she skimmed over his difficulties with NBC, Univision, and Macy’s, and then zeroed in on his wanting to ban Syrian refugees from entering the country. His response echoed the opinions of some 31 U.S. governors refusing to admit asylum seekers into their states.
“We have no idea who the people are. They have no papers. They have no paperwork. You can get forged documents very easily in Syria … We have no idea who they’re letting into our country and our country has enough problems.”
Tainted by the Paris massacre with at least one of the jihadists bearing a Syrian passport, the goodwill toward Syrian refugees turned sour when many of them were found to be carrying fake passports. Along with the arrest of a 21-year-old Moroccan asylum-seeker, German police intercepted “boxes” of counterfeit Syrian passports destined for sale and distribution to bogus “war refugees.” Similarly, the German newspaper, Tagespiegel, revealed that 10,000 fake Syrian passports were seized by police in Bulgaria on their way to Germany.
“It’s my choice not to be there. I support my husband 100 percent, but… we have a 9-year-old son together, Barron, and I’m raising him. This is the age he needs a parent at home.”
Melania also helped Donald tackle Barbara Walters’ question about his disparaging remarks toward women, specifically Carly Fiorina, with his “look at that face” comment. Rising to his defense, Melania said he was like that to everyone, not just women. Being blunt and critical instead of being politically correct is just what he is, she suggested, and people appreciate his direct, apolitical honesty.
In a separate area with Trump’s grown offspring, Walters faced Ivanka, 34, Donald Jr., 37, Eric, 31, (children of first wife Ivana), and Tiffany, 22, (daughter of second wife, Marla Maples). The topic veered toward Trump’s unhealthy consumption of burgers, away from Latino legal residents versus illegals, and so on. Youngest child Barron, 9, appeared toward the end of the show, along with Trump’s smooching grandchildren to complete the happy picture.
[Photo by Christopher Gregory/Getty Images]
