Trump defends beauty queen over gay remark

Donald Trump has said that Miss California Carrie Prejean was "a bit unlucky" to receive the question about gay marriage that she claims cost her the Miss USA title.

The Apprentice star, who owns the Miss Universe franchise, added that it was a tricky question and that no matter how Prejean answered it, "she was going to be killed," E! reports.

The contestant sparked controversy when she said that "marriage should be between a man and a woman" when asked for her opinions on gay unions by blogger Perez Hilton during the competition.

"Miss California has done a wonderful job, that was her belief. It wasn't a bad answer, that was simply her belief," Trump said.

Prejean has defended her comments, saying that she has "spoken from my heart, for my beliefs and for my God". She added that she would not have "answered it any differently".