What Miss Universe candidates think about Donald Trump

MANILA, Philippines — Some Miss Universe candidates were frank about their views about the United States’ new president, Donald Trump, who was inaugurated on Friday.

“He wasn’t my choice for president,” confessed Miss USA Deshauna Barber at the Smile Train event on Friday. “But it’s my duty as a soldier to support him, and that’s what I really plan to do. I do hope that he is able to unify the country right now because there’s too much division in my country because of a very intense election period. I want the American people to really give President Trump a chance.”

She told Philstar.com that she is not sure if Trump will make changes in the military. “But I’m sure that if he makes changes in the military, I’m sure there’ll be positive,” she said.

Meanwhile, Carolyn Carter, representing US Virgin Islands, an organized, unincorporated United States territory in the Caribbean, said: “I don’t 100 percent agree with all the statements he makes especially towards women, so I’m thankful there are beauty pageants that empower intelligent, beautiful women, celebrating them. But he’s going to be our president, so I wish for him all the best, hoping that he succeeds because that means that our country succeeds, too.”

During the elections, President Trump raised eyebrows for his plan with immigrants, most especially those from Mexico.

Miss Mexico Kristal Silva, meanwhile, thinks that the new American president might impose orders that may create more problems for Mexicans in terms of immigration. Still, she remains positive with the development.

“I believe in my government and they’ve been working a lot on Mexicans’ citizenship. They have to do something to maintain good relations with USA. But I think, he (Trump) won’t be a problem for us. Americans have the right to choose the best president for them,” Silva said.

Donald Trump was co-owner of the prestigious pageant when he made statements against illegal immigrants from Mexico in 2015 in his presidential campaign kickoff speech.

Broadcasting giant NBC then ended its ties with Trump after the remarks and said it would no longer air Miss Universe. Trump then sold the organization to WME/IMG talent agency.