News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 24, 2015: A journalist and television anchorman whose aunt was the first wife of former Cuban President Fidel Castro, was shut down by controversial GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump at the U.S./Mexico border Thursday mid-question.
Cuban-American journalist José Díaz-Balart, who is currently the host of “The Rundown with Jose Diaz-Balart” on MSNBC in addition to anchoring two programs on Telemundo, began asking Trump about his comments from his kickoff announcement address but before he could get into his question, Trump interrupted saying: “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. They take a half a sentence — they take a half a sentence, then they take quarter of a sentence and put it all together. It’s a typical thing.”
Then he added: “And you’re with Telemundo, and Telemundo should be ashamed,” before touting his $500 million lawsuit against Univision.
Trump then began launching into his thank you’s of those who hosted him when Diaz-Balart tried pressing the real estate tycoon once again.
“I’m not finished with my question,” Diaz-Balart told Trump.
“No, no. You’re finished,” Trump shot back. “You’ve obviously been proven [inaudible].”
Ever sure of himself, Trump during a whirlwind visit to the Mexico border Thursday also predicted Hispanics would love him.
“I’ll take jobs back from China, I’ll take jobs back from Japan,” Trump said. “The Hispanics are going to get those jobs, and they’re going to love Trump.”
His comments come on the heels of his Trump announced his presidential candidacy in June, he said: “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. … They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Díaz-Balart, who made history in August 1996 by becoming the first Cuban-American to host a network news program when he became anchor for the CBS News program ‘This Morning,’ then posted a photo of him asking ‘The Donald’ the question on Instagram under the caption: “#Trump and my question. #Texas.”
Díaz-Balart is one of the most respected voices in Hispanic journalism in the United States. His achievements include being the only journalist to serve as news anchor on two national television networks in Spanish and English on the same day for an entire season.
Díaz-Balart has received two Emmy awards, the George Foster Peabody Award, Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award, and the Broadcasting & Cable/Multichannel News 2012 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Hispanic Television.
Most recently, he was honored with the 2014 Life Achievement Award by the Hispanic Federation and the Communications Award by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR).
Díaz-Balart is the son of Rafael Diaz-Balart y Gutierrez, a former Cuban politician.
