Spanish singer criticises anti-immigrant comments by US presidential hopeful, and apologises to clowns for comparison

The Spanish singer Julio Iglesias has said he will no longer perform in casinos belonging to Donald Trump because of anti-immigrant comments by the US presidential hopeful.

“I have sung many times in his casinos, but I won’t do it again. He seems to be an *******,” Iglesias told the Barcelona-based daily newspaper La Vanguardia. “He thinks he can fix the world

forgetting what immigrants have done for his country. He is a clown! And my apologies to clowns.”

In June, Trump said in a speech that some Mexican immigrants brought drugs and crime to the United States, and some were rapists. He has called for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants.

Various organisations have severed their ties with Trump over the comments, including the Spanish-American celebrity chef José Andrés, who backed out of plans to open a flagship restaurant in a new Trump hotel.

Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric has alienated Latino voters. He is viewed unfavourably by 82% of Hispanics and favourably by 15%, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released last month.

Iglesias, 72, is Latin music’s top-selling artist, with 300m albums sold in his decades-long career. His latest album, Mexico, features 12 songs with a Mexican flavour and pays tribute to the country’s great songwriters.

Julio Iglesias says he will not perform in 'clown' Donald Trump's casinos | US news | The Guardian