Trump defends 'racist' Bracamontes ad as Facebook and TV networks pull video

The 30-second spot tries to link Luis Bracamontes, a convicted murderer, to the caravan of refugees and migrants approaching the US-Mexico border

Donald Trump has defended as “effective” an election advert created by his campaign and widely deemed racist that appeared on NBC, Fox News and Facebook over the weekend.

The cable networks and the social media giant faced complaints for running the 30-second spot that used convicted murderer Luis Bracamontes to represent migrants hoping to enter the US, and on Monday announced they would no longer broadcast it.

Bracamontes, who murdered two police officers in 2014, is shown laughing in court and vowing to kill again before viewers are told: “Democrats let him into our country. Democrats let him stay.” Migrants are then depicted pulling on what appears to be a border fence.

But reports later suggested the advert’s main attack line was false. Bracamontes last entered the US during George W Bush’s presidency, the reports said, and had been arrested but later released by the office of Sheriff Joe Arpaio before that.

When asked on Monday about the controversy surrounding the clip, Mr Trump pleaded ignorance. “I don’t know about it,” he said. “We have a lot of ads. And they certainly are effective, based on the numbers that we’re seeing.”

The president had posted the video on his Twitter feed just days earlier.

When pressed on the nature of the advert, Mr Trump said: “A lot of things are offensive. Your questions are offensive a lot of times so, you know.”

The ad sparked outrage from viewers and celebrities. Film director Judd Apatow slammed NBC for airing it during the New England Patriots versus Green Bay Packers game.

“So @nbc and @Comcast aired that racist Trump caravan commercial during the football game,” Mr Apatow tweeted. “Who made that decision? How did they decide it was ok? I am disgusted that you would air that after @cnn refused to air it because it is explicitly racist. Shame on you. @NBCNews”

Actress Debra Messing, one of the lead co-stars in NBC’s “Will & Grace,” also chimed in: “I want you to know that I am ashamed that my network aired this disgusting racist ad,” Messing tweeted. “It is the antithesis of everything I personally believe in, and what, I believe, our show is all about.”

Christina Greer, a professor of political science at New York's Fordham University, told The Independent last week that Mr Trump was "pouring gasoline" on the issue of migration.

On Monday, the cable networks and the social media site announced they pulled the ads and will no longer be broadcasting them.

“After further review we recognise the insensitive nature of the ad and have decided to cease airing it across our properties as soon as possible,” NBC Universal said in a statement released Monday. The network aired the 30-second ad in the middle of the prime-time “Sunday Night Football” broadcast.

Fox News also pulled the ad.

“Upon further review, Fox News pulled the ad yesterday and it will not appear on either Fox News Channel or Fox Business Network,” Marianne Gambelli, the conservative network’s advertisement sales president, said in a statement.

On Monday, Facebook said it would remove the ad since it violates the site’s advertising policy against sensational content,” the New York Times reported. Facebook showed the ad to certain users in certain states. The social media company said that users can still share the video on their timelines.

CNN did not air the ad, causing the president’s eldest son to lash out.

Donald Trump Jr lambasted the network for refusing to air the ad, tweeting: “CNN refused to run this ad... I guess they only run fake news and won’t talk about real threats that don’t suit their agenda. Enjoy. Remember this on Tuesday.”

In response, a network spokesperson said: “CNN has made it abundantly clear in its editorial coverage that this ad is racist,” the networks public relations account tweeted. “Then presented with an opportunity to be paid to take a version of this ad, we declined. Those are the facts.”