‘Very Fine People on Both Sides’: Internet Outraged as Trump Defends Accused Wife Beater in Insane Oval Office Comment
‘Women Do Not Exist in This Equation’
Many people are expressing outrage after President Trump defended his former staff secretary Rob Porter, who is credibly accused by both his ex-wives of domestic violence. Friday afternoon the president urged reporters to “remember” that Porter “says he’s innocent,” while saying, “hopefully he will have a great career ahead of him.”
Trump repeatedly told reporters Porter “worked very hard,” and lamented, “It’s obviously a tough time for him.”
Not once did Trump take the time to offer support for Porter’s ex-wives. Not once did Trump even mention them, or take the opportunity to denounce domestic violence. Not once did Trump apologize for not firing Porter, who worked for him for over s year.
Here’s how some on social media are responding:
MSNBC host Chris Hayes:
What the president is trying to say is that there were very fine people on both sides of that vase that went into Rob Porter’s ex-wife’s face.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 9, 2018
Journalist Rebecca Traister:
The president, speaking of a man accused by multiple women of violent crime, can only speak of that man’s talents, future, sadness. Men are the subjects, the people whose fates matter, who feel sadness and who are worthy of eliciting sadness. Women do not exist in this equation.
— Rebecca Traister (@rtraister) February 9, 2018
Former Obama-era U.S. Attorney Joyce Alene:
He said the same thing about General Flynn, didn’t he? https://t.co/vvfDNPqWyw
— Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) February 9, 2018
MSNBC’s Joy Reid:
Trump’s response to the Rob Porter firing was telling. Not a word of sympathy for Porter’s victims. Total support for the man they say abused them. The Trump era is shining a glaring spotlight on a gender ethos that has lingered long past its sell-by date.
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) February 9, 2018
Daily Beast’s Sam Stein:
Sensing a pattern pic.twitter.com/6Z5ZW1NAun
— Sam Stein (@samstein) February 9, 2018
CNN political commentator Keith Boykin:
Trump still claims the Central Park 5 are guilty even after they were exonerated. And it took him 5 1/2 years to admit that President Obama was born in the United States. But when it comes to accused child molesters and wife beaters, Trump gives them the benefit of the doubt. https://t.co/uuPc4xryWb
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) February 9, 2018
Washington correspondent for the Toronto Star:
Trump holds himself out as tough on crime. Aside from his attacks on the FBI, he has also: pardoned convict Joe Arpaio, defended white supremacists after a murder, campaigned for an accused sexual assaulter of children, and, now, expressed sympathy for an accused domestic abuser.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 9, 2018
Trump was far more forceful in condemning Black teenagers accused of shoplifting sunglasses – “a very big deal” – than a top aide accused of beating his wives. pic.twitter.com/8HCheuRkLI
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 9, 2018
Mom’s Demand founder Shannon Watts:
Donald Trump has defended friends, staff and surrogates despite accusations of domestic violence or assault against women: Rob Porter, Steve Bannon, Corey Lewandowski, Andrew Puzder, Steve Wynn, Mike Tyson, Bill O’Reilly, Roger Ailes, Roy Moore…
Also, himself
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) February 9, 2018
HuffPost Senior politics reporter Jennifer Bendery:
Serial sexual harasser says we all probably know the guy who punched and kicked two of his ex-wives is innocent.
Is it too early for whiskey? https://t.co/89HAuSi0oo
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) February 9, 2018
HuffPost Washington Bureau Chief Amanda Terkel:
Trump makes a point of saying Rob Porter has said he’s innocent. “I think you have to remember that.†To this White House, denying the charges is what matters.
— Amanda Terkel (@aterkel) February 9, 2018
Writer Leah McElrath:
Trump translation:
(He is using Porter as a surrogate for himself: over-identifying because other people do not exist as real human beings except in their relationship to him.)
I said *I* was innocent, and my delusional world is the one in which everyone must live. https://t.co/77Q7ywXPfF
— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) February 9, 2018
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