SHE’S HIT & MISS

USA queen stirs ire calling health care a ‘privilege’

THE NEW Miss USA is a scientist at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and she knows a thing or two about dropping a bomb.

Pageant winner Kara McCullough sent heads shaking Sunday night when she said affordable health care in America is a “privilege” instead of a “right.”

McCullough, 25, who started the day as Miss District of Columbia, linked health care access to job creation, leaving the impression that people without a job are not entitled to coverage.

“I’m definitely going to say it’s a privilege,” McCullough (photo) said during the question-and-answer segment of the 2017 pageant at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on the Las Vegas Strip.

“As a government employee, I’m granted health care. And I see firsthand that for one, to have health care, you need to have jobs, so therefore we need to continue to cultivate this environment so that we’re given the opportunities to have health care as well as jobs for all Americans worldwide.”

McCullough’s remarks set off an instant Twitter debate over the polarizing issue with Republican attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare serving as a backdrop.

“Miss DC was my fav but . . . not after that answer,” wrote Twitter user Charlsley Carey. “Everyone has a right to health care.” “Well I guess poor people don’t deserve health care because the new Miss USA said it was a privilege,” tweeted Kathy Lovett. But McCullough did win some fans. “Miss USA is beautiful inside and out,” tweeted Politixgal. “Healthcare IS NOT a right. It costs money & someone has to pay. You shd be paying for your own.” McCullough’s comments come more than a week after the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed a bill to repeal former President Barack Obama’s signature health care legislation. The bill is now in the Senate.

The runner-up Sunday was Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg, a Rutgers University student studying marketing and Spanish. Second runner-up was Miss Minnesota Meridith Gould, who is studying apparel retail merchandising at the University of Minnesota.

President Trump co-owned the Miss Universe Organization with NBC Universal until the network cut ties with him in 2015 over controversial remarks he made about Mexicans as he kicked off his presidential campaign. Trump eventually sold the pageant to a talent management company.

McCullough’s win was the second in a row for a contestant representing the nation’s capital.