Former Miss Universe: 'I will continue standing up' to Trump
WASHINGTON _ The former Miss Universe whom Donald Trump repeatedly attacked this week fought back Friday, insisting she would continue to stand up to him on behalf of women.
During Monday's debate, Hillary Clinton cited Trump's harsh treatment of the beauty queen, Alicia Machado. Trump, who owned the pageant when Machado was Miss Universe, called her "Miss Piggy" and "Miss Housekeeping," and once brought reporters in to watch her work out after she gained weight.
"When I was barely a young woman, the current candidate humiliated me, insulted me, and publicly disrespected me, as he used to do in private in the most cruel way," Machado wrote on Instagram in Spanish.
"Just like what happened to me, it's clear through the years that his actions and conduct have been repeated with other women through the decades. Therefore, I will continue standing up and sharing my story, my absolute support to Mrs. Clinton in the name of women, my sisters, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, friends and the feminine community."
Trump dedicated significant time this week defending his insults of Machado, and he and surrogates have attacked Machado's character.
In tweets early Friday morning, Trump called Machado "disgusting" and a "con" and said Clinton's citing her as an example was a sign of bad judgment. Machado has campaigned for Clinton since June and appeared in a commercial for the former secretary of state.
_ Tribune Washington Bureau
