At its peak, there were only about two dozen protesters rallying, but they were there representing a much larger contingent: more than 500,000 people who added their names to a petition demanding NBC rescind its invitation.
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Several groups aligned with liberal and Democratic causes have called on NBC to reverse its decision to have Trump host the program because of controversial statements he has made about illegal immigrants throughout this campaign. “The reason they put me there is one very simple reason, it’s called ratings”, Donald Trump said in an interview with Savannah Guthrie on the Today Show.
The video generated national headlines, and the organisation used the attention to offer a $US5,000 “bounty” for anyone who disrupts Trump’s “Saturday Night Live” appearance this weekend. “To do so is insensitive and will contribute to the wave of bigotry he is creating”. Many say giving Trump the honor of hosting endorses his views and comments on immigrants.
A report from NBC News said representatives for NBC and “SNL” declined to comment when asked about the Latino protest and petition.
Meanwhile, the Republican presidential candidate has been busy pumping up his new book, Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again, even as Carson pulls ahead of Trump with 29% of Republican primary voters.
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“SNL” on Wednesday scrubbed a promo for Saturday’s show that had featured Trump calling his rival Carson a ‘loser”. “I think it’s just bad”, Trump said Friday morning on Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria”. “But they come up with many, many skits and you pick the ones you think you like”. The ad promises, “If the people of Iowa vote for me, you’ll never be disappointed. I mean what kind of parent allows their kids to go be exposed to the world in a YouTube video using those words?” During one promo, cast member Cecily Strong, who headlined this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April, tells viewers that due to “equal time” laws, Trump only has four seconds to speak.
