Donald Trump gave Miss USA a reprieve Tuesday, allowing the boozing beauty queen to retain her title after she agreed to enter rehab and undergo drug testing.

In a moment of television drama filled with redemptive tears and longing looks, a tough-talking Trump, co-owner of the pageant, turned soft and decided to forgive Tara Conner for her debauched behavior.

“I’ve always been a believer in second chances,” said Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization and Miss USA with NBC. “Tara is going to be given a second chance.”

Trump met with Conner earlier Tuesday fully expecting to fire her, he said. But he walked away convinced the young woman was a “good person” with a “good heart” and not deserving of the boot.

“She left a small town in Kentucky, and she was telling me that she got caught up in the whirlwind of New York,” Trump said at a news conference with Conner at his side. “It’s a story that has happened many times before to many women and to many men who came to the Big Apple. They wanted their slice of the Big Apple, and they found out it wasn’t so easy.”

Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner is kissed by Donald Trump after a news conference in New York City. Conner, who had come under criticism amid rumors she had been frequenting bars while underage, will be allowed to keep her title, Trump announced Tuesday at the news conference.

Conner won the title in April and moved to New York. Since then, she has partied hard, admitting she frequented clubs, where she threw drinks back – despite being underage. She turned 21 on Monday.

At the news conference, in a tear-choked voice, Conner said, “In no way did I think it would be possible for a second chance to be given to me.”

Turning to Trump, she said, “You’ll never know what this means to me, and I swear I will not let you down.”

Trump said Conner would be entering rehab. A pageant official said details would be worked out privately with Conner in the next weeks.

Asked if she was a drunkard, Conner said: “I wouldn’t say that I’m alcoholic. I’d think that would be pushing the envelope.”