The former Miss Universe who has been at the center of one of Donald Trump’s more recent scandals is hitting back at the Republican nominee after he doubled down on his attacks against her Friday.
Alicia Machado posted a nearly 350-word response to Trump’s early morning tweets, after the candidate sent an early morning tweetstorm that called on the American people to look for an alleged sex tape and shamed her for her sexual history.
“Through his campaign of hate, the Republican candidate has insisted on discrediting and demoralizing a woman, something that is definitely one of his more frightening characteristics,” Machado wrote in Spanish with a photo of her posing with the American flag.
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She also recalled her time as Miss Universe and Trump’s remarks about her weight, which came up during Monday night’s debate.
“When I was just a young woman, the current candidate publicly humiliated me, insulted me, disrespected me, as he usually did privately in the cruelest way.”
Democrat Hillary Clinton, whom Machado supports, also responded to her rival’s latest comments with a tweetstorm of her own, calling the remarks “unhinged, even for Trump.”
Trump’s tweets appeared to refer to footage from a Spanish reality show in 2005 in which Machado was a contestant and appeared on camera in bed with a male contestant. The show took place almost a decade after Trump invited reporters to watch Machado exercise after she won Miss Universe in 1996 and then gained what he’s recently described as “a massive amount of weight.”
The post-debate remarks about Machado have added to concerns that Trump is unable to let insults or criticisms go, even when it could be best to stay quiet.
Machado’s post translated into English:
The Republican candidate and his campaign team are again generating attacks, insults, and trying to revive defamations and false accusations about my life. All with the purpose of intimidating me, humiliating me, and upsetting me once again. The attacks that have emerged are cheap slanders and lies generated with bad intentions that do not have any foundation and that have been spread by sensational media. This, of course, is not the first time I have faced a situation like this. Through his campaign of hate, the Republican candidate has insisted on discrediting and demoralizing a woman, something that is definitely one of his more frightening characteristics. With this, he is looking to distract attention from his real problems and his incapacity to be the leader of this great country. When I was just a young woman, the current candidate publicly humiliated me, insulted me, disrespected me, as he usually did privately in the cruelest way . As it happened to me, it’s clear that after all these years, his actions and behaviors have been repeated with other women for decades. In the meantime, I will continue to stand, sharing my story, my absolute support for Mrs. Clinton on behalf of women, my sisters, aunts, grandmothers, cousins, friends, and the female community. To my Latinas and the public at large, I want to thank you for all of the support, love, and respect for my career, my humanity, and my family. I became a citizen of this great country because my daughter was born here and because I want to exercise all of my rights, voting among them. I will continue to stand, firm in my lived experience as Miss Universe, with you by my side supporting me. I have been grateful for such kind words, for such love. I am focusing on my career, being a mother, and I’m going to continue making positive steps for the Latino community, I will continue as an activist supporting women’s rights and the respect we deserve. Again, I appreciate all of your love and support, thank you. Many blessings.
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Read Clinton’s response:
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This is...unhinged, even for Trump. A few notes. https://t.co/WURWs6aJ5f
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
What kind of man stays up all night to smear a woman with lies and conspiracy theories?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
Alicia deserves praise for courageously standing up to Trump's attacks. And he has the gall to blame her—and say he "helped"?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
When something gets under Donald's thin skin, he lashes out and can't let go. This is dangerous for a president.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
To Donald, women like Alicia are only as valuable as his personal opinion about their looks. https://t.co/OZv8yg8vjZ pic.twitter.com/PZWmPcORBR
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
Trump obsessively bullies Rosie O'Donnell—an accomplished actor. He insulted Kim Kardashian for her weight—when she was pregnant. Pathetic.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
We've heard Donald's insults for years, and his policies reflect this disregard—even contempt—for women.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
Trump on equal pay: "Do as good a job" as men.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
Abortion? Should be "punished."
Pregnancy? An "inconvenience."
Wives working? "Dangerous."
While Donald continues day 5 of his Machado meltdown, we'll be in Florida talking about national service. You'll want to watch.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 30, 2016
Material from the Associated Press was included in this report. Nicole Hernandez can be reached at nicole.hernandez@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @NRHSJax.