American broadcaster NBC tells Donald Trump: You are no longer employed

US TV tycoon Donald Trump has had his association with the major American broadcasting network NBC cancelled, following inflammatory remarks he made about Mexicans.

NBC will not now broadcast the Miss USA and Miss World beauty pageants, which are owned by Trump. He will also not be returning to host The Apprentice, as he is running for president.

In a statement, the network said: "Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBCUniversal is ending its business relationship with Mr Trump."

Trump made the controversial comments earlier this month as he announced his presidential run, accusing Mexicans of bringing drugs and crime into the US, and of being rapists.

He said: "They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some I assume are good people, but I speak to border guards, and they tell us what we are getting."

He also said he wanted to build a "great wall" on the US border to prevent illegal immigration - paid for by Mexico, and that US-Mexican trade relations were badly skewed.

In a statement, Trump said he stood by his statements on illegal immigration.

"NBC is weak," he said, "and like everybody else is trying to be politically correct."

Trump's beauty pageants have also been dropped by Univision, the US' largest Spanish-language broadcaster. A Mexican network controlled by billionaire Carlos Slim has also cancelled projects with Trump.