Donald Trump: Gloria Allred ‘Easy To Beat,’ Jenna Talackova Should Focus On Miss Canada
April 4 2012, Published 7:00 a.m. ET
Donald Trump said transgender Miss Universe hopeful Jenna Talackova should focus on winning the pageant in her home country of Canada, and had stinging words for the attorney who began representing her in the wake of the controversy, Gloria Allred.
"I did not know that she had a lawyer, and especially Gloria Allred," Trump told Good Morning America Wednesday, two days after his organization OK’ed Allred’s client Talackova coming back into the competition following her disqualification in March, after pageant officials learned she was born a man.
"In fact, had I known it was Gloria Allred, I probably would not have reversed my decision because, you know, Gloria is easy to beat,” The Donald said in his usual brazen tone. "The fact is, we went by the laws of the country and the laws are very clear and, based on that, about two days ago, we decided to let her compete."
Trump said the 23-year-old Talackova, who underwent sexual reassignment surgery at 19, “should focus on running up in Canada and seeing how she does in Canada.
“And then, if she does well, she has a chance to become what many, many young women all over the world want to be and that's Miss Universe -- that should be her focus."
On Monday, Trump’s executive vice president Michael D. Cohen said in a statement over Talackova’s status: "The Miss Universe Organization will allow Jenna Talackova to compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada pageant provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions."
Miss Universe Canada will be crowned in Toronto May 19.
RadarOnline.com contacted Allred Wednesday to get her response to Trump’s statements.
She sent us a response via email that read:
“Trump has conceded that he cannot keep Jenna out of the competition because it would violate both U.S. and Canadian laws. Trump’s rule of requiring that a contestant be a ‘naturally born female appears to still be in effect in other countries around the world. We want Mr. Trump to eliminate this rule for the entire Miss Universe organization everywhere in the world, but he has not yet agreed to do so. His latest statement is that the rule is being ‘evaluated’ by his organization. There is no need to further ‘evaluate’. The rule is blatantly discriminatory and it is time for Mr. Trump to say that he will get rid of the rule.”
RELATED STORIES:
Transgender Beauty Queen Booted Off Of Miss Universe Hires Gloria Allred!
Disqualified Transgender Beauty Queen Hires A Lawyer To Sue Miss Universe
Disqualified Transgender Beauty Queen To 'Take Legal Action Against Miss Universe Pageant'
Gillian Anderson Says She Was In Lesbian Relationship In Her Teens