President Donald Trump signs the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, accompanied by Vice President Mike Pence, at the White House in Washington D.C., U.S. December 12, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria President Trump’s tweeting is in the news yet again, this time involving a Twitter feud between the president and a couple of female Democratic senators.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) drew the ire of Trump after she called for an investigation into the sexual harassment claims against the president. Trump retaliated by tweeting that Gillibrand is a “lightweight” who “would do anything for” campaign contributions:
Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2017
The Left pounced on Trump’s tweet by claiming it was sexist and implied that Gillibrand was willing to perform sexual favors for campaign contributions:
.@morningmika asks @IvankaTrump “where are you?” after charging that her father—with this tweet—just sexually harassed @SenGillibrand. https://t.co/uhmoI1vOSB
— Eric Cortellessa (@EricCortellessa) December 12, 2017
President Trump, this morning, insinuating that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand offered him sexual favors in exchange for campaign contributions, is the most disturbing thing I've ever seen him do. Gillibrand stands for everything that's right in America. #WeLoveYouGillibrand
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) December 12, 2017
Are you really trying to bully, intimidate and slut-shame @SenGillibrand? Do you know who you're picking a fight with? Good luck with that, @realDonaldTrump. Nevertheless, #shepersisted. https://t.co/mYJtBZfxiu
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 12, 2017
In the last tweet by Warren, some took notice of Warren’s use of the term “slut-shaming.”
Uuuhhh, as I understood it the word slut-shame means "to stigmatize (a woman) for engaging in behavior judged to be promiscuous or sexually provocative." Is that really what Warren means? https://t.co/49O718Mxys
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) December 12, 2017
Tfw you want to weirdly and implicitly call a 2020 rival a slut while purporting to defend her while reminding everyone of your greatest Twitter moment pic.twitter.com/3rX8bZDrqm
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) December 12, 2017
Gillibrand responded to Trump’s tweet by stating, “It was a sexist smear attempting to silence my voice, and I will not be silenced on this issue. Neither will the women who stood up to the president yesterday.”
Sen. Gillibrand responds to President Trump's attacks: "It was a sexist smear attempting to silence my voice, and I will not be silenced on this issue. Neither will the women who stood up to the president yesterday." pic.twitter.com/QccDcO7cg6
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 12, 2017
Others dispute the notion that there was any sexism in Trump’s tweet, pointing to how Trump has used similar rhetoric toward the likes of Mitt Romney and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
In the wake of Sen. Al Franken’s (D-MN) resignation announcement, the Democrats are rallying behind the notion that Trump should resign given that he is accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Gillibrand told CNN on Monday, “President Trump has committed assault, according to these women, and those are very credible allegations of misconduct and criminal activity, and he should be fully investigated and he should resign. These allegations are credible; they are numerous. I’ve heard these women’s testimony, and many of them are heartbreaking.”
Trump has denied the accusations.
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