American Miss U bet: Trump deserves support

MANILA, Philippines - The US candidate for the Miss Universe pageant here believes their new president, billionaire Donald Trump, deserves their support.

“President Trump was not my vote but as someone who serves in the military, I support him. I really hope that the American people give him a chance. I think he deserves a chance. He deserves our respect,” Deshauna Barber, a US Army lieutenant prior to joining Miss USA, told The STAR at a media luncheon yesterday hosted by PLDT and Smart Communications.

“I just really hope that he’s able to unify the US. It’s such a divisive time because the elections were so controversial. It really separated a lot of American people in terms of opinions and that’s why I hate politics – the way it affects how people feel about each other. That’s why I really, really hope that he unifies us because right now we’re very divided. But I do have faith in the American people, in my country and I have faith that we’re going to come back together again,” Barber said.

Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States yesterday and announced an inward-looking policy that “it’s going to be only America first.”

Miss Universe Organization president Paula Shugart, for her part, shared what the public could expect from Trump’s kind of leadership.

Trump owned the Miss Universe franchise from 1996 to 2015.

“I worked for (Trump) for 15 years. I guarantee that the country will be put on a strict budget. One thing I learned from him is how to manage a budget. He didn’t want someone to answer to him why something went over. He’s very good and focused,” Shugart told The STAR in a recent exclusive interview.

She revealed that Trump hired her over the phone. “I never met him. I answered him on the phone. He needed someone to step in as president of Miss U. ‘I heard good things and I need for you to step in.’ I originally stood as his acting president. I thank God his voice is so recognizable because I would have thought it was a joke,” Shugart said.

Trump sold the franchise to the WME/IMG talent agency in September 2015 but not after stirring some controversy. It was widely reported that his statements on illegal immigrants in his presidential run kick-off speech prompted NBC to cut business ties with him and cancel the airing of Miss Universe on its networks.

A former Miss Universe winner also aggressively campaigned against Trump. 

Asked to comment on Trump’s leadership style, Barber said, “He’s definitely a different type … definitely unique in his style of politics. He’s extremely different and new to the US people in terms of being incredibly opinionated. He doesn’t care about political correctness, and it’s fine. I respect whoever is the commander-in-chief.”

Barber said being in the military has made her aware of many issues affecting the relations between the US and other countries, including the Philippines.

President Duterte had ranted against the previous US administration amidst its criticisms on his war on drugs.

The beauty queen said, “I’ve been told that President Trump and the president of the Philippines have been communicating. I think it’s a great thing.”

She added, “I wonder (if we would meet Duterte). I would assume he’s going to be in the pageant. I would love to meet him.”

Based on the schedule of events furnished to the media, the 86 candidates are set to pay a courtesy call on Duterte in Malacañang tomorrow.