Machado Story Sways Hispanic Voters
False Assumption: Highlighting Donald Trump's shaming of Miss Universe Alicia Machado would outrage and mobilize Hispanic voters against him.
Written by FARAgent on February 10, 2026
In September 2016, during the first presidential debate, Hillary Clinton closed her attack on Donald Trump by recounting his treatment of Alicia Machado, the 1996 Miss Universe from Venezuela. Clinton portrayed Trump's public criticism of Machado's weight gain as cruel body-shaming of a Latina woman. The New York Times praised this as a brilliant move that turned Machado's supposed long-term trauma into a political weapon.
Clinton and her team assumed Hispanic feminists and voters would rally to avenge Machado's pudginess, delivering votes against Trump. Trump dismissed it, stating she had gained a massive amount of weight, which was her job to maintain. Photos confirmed Trump's observation. The strategy flopped; it did not sway Hispanic voters as hoped.
Today, the tactic is widely seen as a bizarre miscalculation. Trump won the election with stronger-than-expected Hispanic support. Critics mock it as one of Clinton's worst campaign decisions.
People Involved
- In the fall of 2016, Hillary Clinton seized on the story of Alicia Machado during a presidential debate. She presented it as her closing argument, certain it would rally Hispanic voters against her opponent.
- Clinton believed the tale of shaming would hit hard. [1]
- Alicia Machado, the 1996 Miss Universe from Venezuela, accused Donald J. Trump of causing her five years of anorexia and bulimia through his weight comments. She gained prominence as the campaign spotlighted her claims. [1]
- Donald J.
- Trump, then the Republican nominee and pageant owner, had publicly urged Machado to slim down, calling it part of her job. After the debate, he defended his stance without apology. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (3)
“On Monday night, Hillary Clinton turned Ms. Machado’s pain into a potent political weapon on the biggest stage.”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
““I was sick — anorexia and bulimia for five years,” she said in an interview with The New York Times in May. “I was 18. My personality wasn’t created yet. I was just a girl.””— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
““She gained a massive amount of weight, and it was a real problem,” he told Fox News.”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
Organizations Involved
The New York Times played a key role in boosting the narrative. Editors praised Clinton's tactic, declaring the Machado story a clever elevation of Trump's flaws. [1] The paper framed it as a winning blow, confident in its power to sway opinions. This promotion came amid the heated 2016 campaign, where media outlets sought angles to undermine Trump. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“The New York Times news section congratulated Hillary on her brilliant stratagem:”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
The Foundation
The assumption rested on the idea that Trump's comments and a gym visit inflicted deep psychological harm on Machado. She claimed lasting trauma from the shaming, including eating disorders. [1] Media sympathy made this seem plausible at first. Yet photos from the time revealed her notable weight gain, which aligned with Trump's concerns rather than contradicting them. [1] What appeared as unjust cruelty was, in truth, a straightforward business decision gone awry in the telling. The foundation crumbled under scrutiny, but not before it shaped strategies. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Judging from the photos online, Trump was right.”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
How It Spread
The story spread rapidly through mainstream outlets in late September 2016. The New York Times led with glowing coverage, portraying Trump's actions as clear misogyny. [1] Other media followed, amplifying the narrative to reach voters. They aimed to influence Hispanic communities, framing the incident as a cultural affront. [1] Funding and editorial incentives kept the momentum going, with little room for dissent in the echo chamber of campaign season. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Shamed and Angry: Alicia Machado, a Miss Universe Mocked by Donald Trump By Michael Barbaro and Megan Twohey Sept. 27, 2016”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
Harm Caused
Clinton's heavy bet on the Machado story backfired. It highlighted her campaign's missteps, making her appear out of touch. [1] Despite the media push, the tactic failed to deliver the expected outrage. This contributed to her loss in the November election, as voters turned elsewhere. [1] The irony lingered: a supposed masterstroke became a symbol of overconfidence. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“What was Hillary thinking when she and her brain trust came up with that jaw-dropper of a closer?”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
Downfall
The assumption collapsed with Trump's victory on November 8, 2016. He secured stronger Hispanic support than anticipated, defying predictions. [1] The strategy, meant to mobilize outrage, instead revealed a disconnect with the electorate. Key polls and exit data confirmed the failure, showing no significant shift against him. [1] What experts hailed as potent proved inert, exposing the flaw in their calculations. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Was Hillary’s assumption that Hispanic feminists would march to the polls to avenge the pudginess of Alicia Machado? Yeah … probably not.”— What's Going to Happen in Venezuela?
Sources
- [1]