How Univision and Telemundo covered Donald Trump’s visit to the border

Washington Post

By Ed O’Keefe

July 23, 2015

How Univision and Telemundo covered Donald Trump’s visit to the border 

Donald Trump's visit to the U.S.-Mexico border dominated the airwaves on Thursday -- in English and Spanish.

While the national newscasts on ABC, CBS and NBC covered Trump's visit to Laredo, Tex., coverage of the GOP presidential candidate dominated the national news broadcasts on Univision and Telemundo. Republicans fearful of how Trump is hurting the party's image with the nation's fast-growing Latino voting population need only play back Thursday night's broadcasts as proof.

Univision devoted six minutes of coverage to Trump's visit, while Telemundo gave him a total of nine minutes. No other Republican or Democratic presidential candidate was mentioned on either program.

"The magnate said that the United States needs a wall that divides it from Mexico," co-anchor Jorge Ramos told viewers at the top of his "Noticiero Univision," the more popular of the two newscasts.

Jose Diaz-Balart, the co-anchor of "Noticiero Telemundo," anchored his newscast live from Laredo and told viewers that "Trump declared to the press that he's certain of the Latino vote and insisted that he hasn't insulted anyone."

The anchors and correspondents spoke in Spanish. Trump's remarks in English were translated into Spanish.

Ramos and Diaz-Balart enjoy outsized influence with Latino viewers of nightly newscasts. Their broadcasts air at the same time as the programs on ABC, CBS and NBC and usually win the ratings race in the largest Hispanic markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, Dallas and Houston.

On Thursday night, both networks noted that Trump aggressively batted away questions regarding his comments about illegal immigrants from Mexico.

During one of the two news conferences Trump held in Texas, Diaz-Balart reminded the candidate that 53,000 Hispanics turn 18 each month and that many are offended by his suggestion that Mexicans crossing the border are rapists or criminals.

"No, no, no, we're talking about illegal immigration and everybody understands that. And you know what? That's a typical case -- wait -- that's a typical case of the press with misinterpretation," Trump shot back in response. "They take a half a sentence -- by the way -- they take a half a sentence, then they take a quarter of a sentence. It's a typical thing. And you're with Telemundo and Telemundo should be ashamed. And I tell you what -- what's really going to be fun? I'm suing Univision for $500 million and I'm gonna tell ya -- we're going to win a lot of money because of what they've done."

"You're finished," Trump told Diaz-Balart.

"He never allowed me to finish asking my question," Diaz-Balart told his viewers.

Notably, neither network included Trump's reminder to supporters that he's suing Univision. The network dropped plans to air the Miss Universe pageant -- one of Trump's dozens of business interests -- because of his comments about illegal immigrants. In response, Trump has said he will sue the network for breach of contract.

Univision's first story also mentioned that the local union for U.S. Border Patrol agents changed course and backed out of an appearance with Trump.

"They invited me and then all of a sudden 'silencio,' they want silence," Trump was seen saying in response.

Both newscasts included comments from a small group of protesters who picketed Trump's visit, many of whom wore stickers supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign.

Ramos asked follow-up questions about security measures taken to avoid violence. The on-scene correspondent noted that local police handled the situation well, and didn't act aggressively.

"Trump brought his private security that was with him when he landed until he left this city," the correspondent said.

In its second story, Telemundo correspondent Cristina Londono noted that all day, Laredo was full of "controversy, thanks to Donald Trump."

"Trump insisted that he has the Latino vote locked up," she said.

"He said that he's going to give jobs to all of the Latinos," Londono added later. "But the majority of people I saw here are opposed to him. This afternoon, they're celebrating -- because he's left."

Telemundo also spoke with two lawmakers representing border districts -- Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Tex.) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who noted that Laredo is a safer city per capita than Washington and New York and that the region's economy is doing well -- but could be doing better -- because of backups at legal border routes.

In Univision's second story, the network reported that Trump has refused to consider mounting a third-party, or independent presidential bid.

"I want to run as a Republican, and I think I will win the nomination," Trump was shown saying.

The correspondent noted that Democrats and Republicans dismiss third parties as "a dirty phrase."

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) told Univision that "Donald Trump would be a threat if he ran as an independent, I hope he doesn't do it."

Arturo Vargaas, the executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), told the network that no third-party candidate has ever won the presidency.

Later in the newscasts, Telemundo also spoke with illegal immigrants living in California who are trying to provide for families back in Mexico and responded negatively to Trump. Univision also told the story of a Guatemalan immigrant living in Brooklyn, who was attacked and severely injured on Sunday by two white men who have yet to be found. In an interview, the man suggested that his attackers might have been inspired by Trump's comments about illegal immigrants.

After Trump, both newscasts moved on to continuing coverage of the escape of "El Chapo," Joaquin Guzman, the drug cartel leader who recently escaped from a Mexican maximum-security prison.

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