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Trump slams Dem. who told him to quit
Suggestive tweet goes after Sen. Gillibrand, a frequent critic
WASHINGTON — Half a dozen senators have called on President Donald Trump to resign over sexual misconduct allegations. On Tuesday morning he singled out one of them for attack — New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand — and with a sexually suggestive tweet that immediately provoked new criticism.
Trump wrote that “Lightweight” Gillibrand “would come to my office ‘begging’ for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them).”
Though provocative tweets are commonplace for Trump, this one hit a political nerve given national attention to the topic of sexual harassment of women and renewed scrutiny of the allegations against him by more than a dozen women. Social media and cable television talk shows quickly ignited with bipartisan outrage.
Hours later, Trump’s top spokeswoman denied that he implied anything sexual. “Only if your mind is in the gutter would you have read it that way,” Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters.
“There’s no way that this is sexist at all,” Sanders said.
Gillibrand, who is mentioned as a possible presidential candidate for 2020, hit back at Trump. She said in a tweet that he has brought “shame” to the presidency and “cannot silence” her or the women who have described his alleged misconduct. Separately, she told reporters Trump’s words were “a sexist smear.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tweeted in Gillibrand’s defense, addressing Trump in her comments.
“Are you really trying to bully, intimidate and slutshame @SenGillibrand? Do you know who you’re picking a fight with?” Warren said Tuesday on Twitter. “Good luck with that, @realDonaldTrump. Nevertheless, #shepersisted.”
Gillibrand was attending a bipartisan Bible study Tuesday morning when Trump’s tweet landed, and her phone was immediately filled with supportive and befuddled messages, wondering just what the president was thinking, a Gillibrand aide said.
Sen. James Lankford, ROkla., who was in the Bible study group with Gillibrand, later issued a statement, saying: “Respectful dialogue and disagreement sets a better example for our children and the world. Our leaders should focus on the issues, not personal attacks.”
Gretchen Carlson, the former Fox News personality whose lawsuit against Roger Ailes for sexual harassment led to the resignation of the late network chairman, also weighed in with a duo of tweets defending Gillibrand.
“What do u mean @SenGillibrand would ‘do anything’ for campaign contributions? By the way she isn’t a lightweight,” she wrote.
In a second tweet, Carlson continued: “Sexual harassment is apolitical. Women will not be silenced no matter what party they are in. Period.”
Trump offered no evidence to support his claim that Gillibrand had gone to him “begging” for campaign donations “and would do anything for them.” According to Open Secrets, a nonprofit website that tracks campaign contributions, since 1996, Trump has donated $8,900 to Sen. Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and $5,850 to Gillibrand.
Gillibrand met with Trump once in 2010, the Gillibrand aide said, and Trump’s oldest daughter, Ivanka, attended the meeting.
At least 16 women came forward before his election to describe Trump forcibly kissing or touching them, or purposely walking in on them in dressing rooms, among other allegations. Three of the women called on Monday for a congressional investigation into their claims.
Trump described the accounts as “false accusations and fabricated stories” in another tweet on Tuesday, saying they came from “women who I don’t know and/or have never met” — a contention some of the women dispute.
Of the six senators who have said Trump should quit, two are women and five are Democrats (The number includes Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont.) Trump’s jabs at Gillibrand fit into the president’s longtime pattern of lashing out and belittling his critics.
Katie Packer Beeson, a veteran Republican strategist and Trump opponent, said Trump’s tweet was indicative of how he “views women and the way he bullies and demeans those who he views as a threat.”
Mary Anne Marsh, a Democratic strategist, said Trump seems “to come undone” whenever someone questions his ability to be president.
“If it is a woman calling into question if he should be in office, he really comes undone,” Marsh said, pointing to Trump’s attacks on Hillary Clinton, journalist Megyn Kelly and MSNBC host Mika Brzezinski.
Marsh said Trump’s outburst may have had the unintended effect of mobilizing women voters and elevating the national profile of Gillibrand.
Democratic lawmakers rallied to Gillibrand’s defense.
“It took my breath away and it represents the conduct of a person who is ill-equipped to be the president of the United States,” said Rep. Jackie Speier of California, who helped get more than 100 House Democrats to sign a letter demanding a House investigation of the allegations against Trump.