Donald Trump says he has bought 100 per cent of Miss Universe pageant after fight with NBC

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Donald Trump spokesman Michael Cohen confirmed the Republican presidential hopeful has purchased NBC’s half of the Miss Universe Organization and settled all lawsuits against the media company.

The move, which Trump announced via Twitter on Friday morning, gives him full ownership of the Miss Universe and Miss USA pageants and completes a divorce begun in June when NBC announced it was ending its business relationship with Trump, who had starred on the network as host of “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

The announcement came hours before Trump was scheduled to tape a guest appearance on “The Tonight Show,” which will air at 11:35 p.m. Friday on NBC.

NBC would not comment on the purchase.

The network had said it was severing ties with Trump because of comments he made about Mexican immigrants during the announcement of his presidential campaign.

At the time, NBC said it would no longer air the annual Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and Trump sued. The network later said Trump would never be on “The Celebrity Apprentice” again.