Legendary Sin City entertainer Wayne Newton has revealed he will attend the third and final presidential debate Wednesday night as a guest of Donald Trump, as he defended the Republican candidate over allegations of sexual misbehavior in a radio interview Tuesday.
In the interview with WABC Radio’s Rita Cosby, the 74-year-old singer and friend of Trump said that during a particularly tough time in his life, the billionaire real estate mogul once gave him “the best advice [he had] ever gotten” and that he would like to return the favor.
“Don’t be suckered in by your opponent and let her pull you into conversations that are beneath you,” Newton advised his friend ahead of Wednesday night’s debate, which will be held at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. “Stay with what’s important, and that is the American people.”
In the interview, Newton — also known as “Mr. Las Vegas” — defended Trump in the wake of the recent release of an 11-year-old Access Hollywood tape in which the candidate jokes about engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior with women.
“I have known Donald Trump in excess of 30 years. I’ve been with him on many different occasions, under many different circumstances. I have never seen him be unkind. I have never seen him treat women in a derisive way in any form or fashion,” Newton told Cosby.
He continued:
“I have never seen him under any circumstances react in an irresponsible way toward a lady. I have never seen him say unkind things to a lady. I have never seen him say an unkind word to anybody. He is a fighter, that’s what he’s done his whole life, and unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on which side of the aisle you’re on, that’s what people are clawing into.”
Newton added that he himself has been the victim of saying things he’s regretted while being recorded on tape, and took a shot at Trump’s opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“He has learned from those things,” Newton said. “He would make an incredible president, and to have four more years of what we’ve had for the last eight, I’m not sure America will survive.”
Listen to Newton’s interview with WABC Radio’s Rita Cosby above.
Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum