Trump cautious on allegations against Biden
● JOE BIDEN has vehemently denied the allegation, saying it never happened.
Washington, May 11: President Donald Trump rarely holds his fire, hurling accusations true and false. But when it comes to the sexual assault allegation levelled against Joe Biden, his Democratic rival, the president has been unusually reticent. Trump didn’t publicly address the issue until April 30, more than a month after former Senate staffer Tara Reade alleged on a podcast that Biden sexually assaulted her in a Capitol Hill basement in 1993.
Biden has vehemently denied the allegation, saying it never happened. When Trump has talked about the accusation, he’s been tepid. “I don’t know anything about it,” Trump first said in response to a reporter’s question.
“I think he should respond. You know ... it could be false accusations. I know all about false accusations. I’ve been falsely charged numerous times. And there is such a thing.” He offered the same line on Friday during an interview with TV’s “Fox & Friends.” “Look, he’s got to fight that battle. I’ve had battles, too, where I’ve had false accusations, many times,” he said. “I’ve had many false accusations made, I can tell you that. Many. And maybe it is a false accusation. Frankly, I hope it is, for his sake.” Trump’s comments highlight the complicated calculus he faces as he tries to weaponise a rival’s potential vulnerability when he himself has been accused of assault and unwanted touching by a long list of women - allegations he, too, denies.
While Trump has never been shy about using his own weaknesses as ammunition — an “I’m rubber, you’re glue” strategy he used in 2016 to try to blunt attacks against him — the November contest between Biden and Trump is the first presidential race since the dawn of the #MeToo era. The movement has spurred numerous women to come forward with allegations of sexual assault, including against prominent men in politics, entertainment and other industries.
Trump is stepping up his attacks on Biden on other fronts, particularly an effort to portray him as soft on China. But in resisting the urge to seize on Reade’s allegation, Trump is acknowledging the bind he’s in with women, who could help decide the election.