Erik Pendzich/REX USADonald Trump had a few parting shots for NBC on his way out the door.
Surprise!
In response to the network's announcement Monday that it was ending its business relationship with the Celebrity Apprentice host, the real estate tycoon and Republican presidential candidate released a statement in which he stood by his own comments on immigration and accused NBC of being "weak."
"As of today, Donald J. Turmp is no longer affiliated with NBC," read the statement released by his office and obtained by E! News. "Mr. Trump stands by his statements on illegal immigration, which are accurate. NBC is weak, and like everybody else is trying to be politically correct—that is why our country is in serious trouble."
When announcing his candidacy on June 16, Trump said that the United States had become a "dumping ground" for the rest of the world's problems.
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you," he told an audience gathered for his speech at Trump Tower in NYC. "They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
In telling Trump he was no longer welcome on its airwaves, NBC stated today, "At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values. Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump. To that end, the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants, which are part of a joint venture between NBC and Trump, will no longer air on NBC. In addition, as Mr. Trump has already indicated, he will not be participating in The Celebrity Apprentice on NBC. Celebrity Apprentice is licensed from Mark Burnett's United Artists Media Group and that relationship will continue."
Trump maintains, meanwhile, that he had already told NBC he wasn't planning on doing anymore Apprentice because of his presidential run.
"We must have strong borders and not let illegal immigrants enter the United States," his statement continued. "As has been stated continuously in the press, people are pouring across our borders unabated. Public reports routinely state great amounts of crime are being committed by illegal immigrants. This must be stopped and it must be stopped now. Long ago I told NBC that I would not being doing The Apprentice because I am running for President in order to Make our Country Great Again.
"If NBC is so weak and so foolish to not understand the serious illegal immigration problem in the United States, coupled with the horrendous and unfair trade deals we are making with Mexico, then their contract violating closure of Miss Universe/Miss USA will be determined in court. Furthermore, they will stand behind lying Brian Williams, but won't stand behind people that tell it like it is, as unpleasant as that may be."
Spanish-language station Univision also cut ties with Trump's Miss Universe Organization last week over his remarks, and Roselyn Sanchez pulled out of co-hosting the upcoming Miss USA pageant. More than 200,000 people had also signed a Change.org petition demanding that NBC get rid of Trump as well.
(E! Online and NBC are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)