NBC has fired Donald Trump over “recent derogatory statements” that the mogul made about immigrants.

The network said it would now not be airing the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants that are co-owned by Donald Trump.

Responding to the announcement, Donald Trump said he would consider suing NBC.

Earlier this month, Donald Trump accused Mexicans of adding drugs and crime to the US as he announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

“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 said in his speech on June 16.

Donald Trump also pledged to build a “great wall” on the US border with Mexico and insisted it would be paid for by Mexicans.

He later insisted he was criticizing US lawmakers, not Mexican people.

NBC had faced pressure from Hispanic advocacy groups to drop Donald Trump’s shows and a petition on the Change.org website gathered more than 200,000 signatures.

On June, NBC issued a statement saying: “At NBC, respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values.”

Celebrity Apprentice would continue to be aired, the network added, as it is licensed from a separate group. Donald Trump stopped hosting the show when he entered the presidential contest.

Donald Trump issued a statement shortly after NBC’s announcement, saying he stood by his statements on illegal immigrations, “which are accurate”.

“NBC is weak, and like everybody else is trying to be politically correct – that is why our country is in serious trouble,” he said.

He claimed NBC had violated its contract and said the move would be “determined in court”.

NBC is the second network to drop Donald Trump after Univision, one of the largest US Spanish-language broadcasters, also ended its coverage of Miss USA.

Polls suggest Donald Trump is running second to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in the crowded field of Republican hopefuls.