Former Miss Universe defends Donald Trump after video emerges of him making lewd sexual comment to her
The Republican nominee was shown joking about Jennifer Hawkins' intellect and kissing her on stage at an event in 2011
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Your support makes all the difference.A former Miss Universe winner has defended Donald Trump after a video emerged showing the embattled Republican nominee making lewd comments about her on stage.
Mr Trump has been accused of sexual assault or harassment by a number of women in recent weeks. He has strenuously denied all of their claims and says he plans to take legal action against his accusers once the election is over.
On Saturday, the Huffington Post released video footage it said showed Mr Trump “sexually humiliating” Jennifer Hawkins during a speech given in 2011. Mr Trump was speaking at the National Achievers Congress in Sydney where Ms Hawkins, the 2004 Australian winner of Miss Universe, was in attendance.
In the video, Mr Trump was joking about being angry at Miss Hawkins because she did not introduce him at the event, claiming he “helped her make it” and making a sexual joke at her expense. Mr Trump owned the Miss Universe beauty pageant from 1996 to 2015.
“I believe, get even with people, if they screw you, screw them back, 10 times harder,” he said. “And I'll give you an example, Jennifer Hawkins.
"Where’s Jennifer? Where’s she sitting? Get over here, Jennifer. First of all, how beautiful is Jennifer? This is about getting even.”
He then asked her to explain why she was not present to introduce him. Footage becomes difficult to hear but Miss Hawkins seems to reply that there was a “miscommunication”, adding: “Of course I wanted to be here.”
Mr Trump continues: “I was actually going to get up and tell you that Jennifer is a beautiful girl on the outside, but she’s not very bright. That wouldn’t have been true, but I would have said it anyway.
“So what happens is ― and you know what? She came tonight, she came ― came, she came, she came. See, so they have the same filthy minds in Australia.”
He then pulls her to him and kisses her on the cheek.
After the footage emerged, Miss Hawkins refused to condemn Mr Trump, 70, telling FairFax Media: “He respected me during that time in my life and I have a lot of respect for him because of that.”
She also declined to comment on his politics, adding: “That's not saying I agree with everything that's been happening ... but I am not going to sit here and throw negative comments out there, it's just not who I am. I don't like drama in my life so I try to stay away from that.”
The Independent has contacted Mr Trump’s representative for comment.
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