Newly-crowned Miss USA Kara McCullough attempted to clarify statements she made during the Miss USA 2017 pageant Sunday evening about the affordability of healthcare in the U.S., according to ABC News.
During the competition, judges asked Ms. McCullough, 25, a scientist with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, if affordable healthcare for all U.S. citizens should be considered a right or a privilege. Ms. McCullough responded, stating: "I'm definitely going to say it's a privilege."
She continued: "As a government employee, I am granted healthcare and I see firsthand that for one to have healthcare, you need to have jobs. So therefore, we need to continue to cultivate this environment that we're given the opportunity to have healthcare as well as jobs to all the American citizens worldwide."
In an interview with "Good Morning America" Tuesday, Ms. McCullough attempted to clarify the remarks she made in response to the question Sunday, stating she believes healthcare "should be a right" for all, according to the report.
"I am privileged to have healthcare and I do believe that it should be a right," she said, according to the report. "I hope and pray moving forward that healthcare is a right for all worldwide … I just want people to see where I was coming from. Having a job, I have to look at healthcare like it is a privilege."