Um, abuse bad

PRESIDENT TRUMP broke his silence about domestic violence on Wednesday as the White House faced growing criticism over its handling of allegations of spousal abuse against former aide Rob Porter.

Trump had repeatedly declined opportunities to speak out on the matter and ignored questions about Porter’s ex-wives, who came forward with frightening tales of physical and psychological abuse.

Instead, he praised Porter’s character and said accused abusers are owed due process, lamenting over the weekend that “people’s lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation.”

The President, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women, broke his silence Wednesday.

“I am totally opposed to domestic violence of any kind. Everyone knows that, and it almost wouldn’t even have to be said,” he told reporters. “So now you hear it, but you all know it.”

The House Oversight Committee, meanwhile, is investigating how the White House handled Porter’s employment, chairman Trey Gowdy said on Wednesday.

“We are directing inquiries to people that we think have access to information we don’t have,” the South Carolina Republican told CNN.

Asked if the probe was official, Gowdy said all that matters is what the inquiries uncover.

“What matters to me is that we are directing inquiries to people that we think have access to information we don’t have,” he said.

FBI Director Christopher Wray testified Tuesday that the bureau handed information about Porter’s background to the White House earlier than the Trump administration has admitted.

Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee that a preliminary report was passed on in March and a full background check completed by July. The FBI responded to requests for more information in November and closed its file in January.

That contradicts the administration’s earlier claim that the FBI was still doing its background check when he resigned last week.

The White House has repeatedly said that no one in the West Wing was aware of the seriousness of the allegations against Porter until photos of one of his ex-wives sporting a

President Trump speaks out at last (below) on Wednesday, saying he’s “totally opposed to domestic violence” after previously praising ousted White House staff secretary Rob Porter (left).