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On Wednesday night, GB News presenter and Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg delivered a speech to the nation on his evening TV show.
“The jury in the rape trial of Donald Trump found the former US president…” Mogg said, then paused and held up his fingers as if to create a state of tension.
He looked like he was announcing the lottery winner with the fate of the village – not the result of a rape accusation.
“Innocent,” he declared, detailing the case — and a verdict of guilty of Trump’s sexual abuse — ahead of an interview with Republican candidate and “Mr. Trump supporter” Kari Lake.
Lake defended Trump, saying he was convicted by a jury in “liberal” New York, and when Rees-Mogg asked if the case “undermines trust in the American legal system,” she replied: “Our legal system is a mess now … you can see what they did to President Trump.
“In some cases in New York, they don’t even prosecute murderers, but they do prosecute [him]’
Allowing this kind of opinion to be aired unopposed on news channels is not only dangerous, it is a huge blow to victims of sexual abuse around the world.
If Trump and his defenders continue to get a platform regardless of conviction, what message does that send?
My heart broke when Carroll spoke about how she had not been able to maintain a physical relationship since the assault more than a quarter of a century ago
Rape cannot be downplayed – even if the prosecution could not convince the jury that it happened.
The jury, however, found Trump to be legally a sexual predator, finding that he sexually abused columnist E Jean Carroll in the cloakroom of a New York department store in the 1990s.
They also discovered that Trump defamed Carroll by claiming she had lied about the meeting and ordered him to pay her $5 million in damages.
Not only did he claim to have never met her – despite photographic evidence to the contrary – he also claimed that Carroll was “not his type or shape in any way.”
This kind of language is as disturbing as it is problematic. If a person is defending themselves against an allegation of sexual assault, their defense should focus on the fact that they would not dream of doing such a thing – rather than implying that the accuser is not attractive enough to be assaulted.
Despite using the “not my type” defense, Trump actually mistook a photo of his accuser for his second wife during his video testimony.
It broke my heart when Carroll spoke about how she had been unable to maintain a physical relationship since the assault more than a quarter of a century ago.
Meanwhile, Trump – the man Carroll described as “digging inside.” [her] vagina” – became president of the United States of America, arguably the most respected office in the Western world (until he assumed it).
I remember crying when Trump was announced 45p President of the USA. This was a man who bragged about grabbing women’s pussies and claimed they enjoyed it.
A man who bragged about the beauty and young age of the girls he hung out with.
A man whose ex-wife accused him of rape before withdrawing her claims, and after her death, buried her on her golf course so he could allegedly pay less property tax.
Donald Trump uses women even after death.
Shortly after the end of the civil trial, Trump made a televised appearance on CNN, the network he accused of spreading fake news during his presidency. In the so-called “town hall,” Trump was put to the test by presenter Kaitlin Collins, a woman he once banned from attending White House press conferences because she was too good at her job.
I was disappointed to see CNN give a platform to a man who had just been found legally responsible for sexual assault. I once again wondered what it takes for a man to be truly canceled.
But Kaitlin was a consummate professional and challenged Trump – at one point he almost snapped when he demanded to speak (even though he was the only one speaking) and then called Collins a “nasty person” because she dared press him for an answer.
Trump hates it when someone tries to make a fool out of him – but he hates it even more when it’s a woman. Women should not be smart, they should be dancers, assistants or his plaything.
They’re not supposed to back down.
Donald Trump follows the same pattern every time he is called out for his behavior. He denies, attacks, then claims to be a victim.
Whether in a civil sexual assault trial, in an interview with CNN, or when his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Unfortunately, too many Americans still fall for his ruse.
I wonder if they would feel the same way if Trump repeatedly disrespected male veterans. Do people still support Trump – after all – because they still have a deep-seated belief that women are inferior?
That women are to be humiliated, disrespected and humiliated – and if we fight, they’ll think we’re looking for fame and fortune, not justice.
Yes, Donald Trump has been cleared of rape – but legally he is still a sexual abuser (and there are still many other sexual assault charges against him).
In 2016, his sexual misconduct was found to be “locker room talk”, but now, in 2023, he has been found guilty of sexual abuse in court.
Unfortunately, I’m afraid it won’t matter to his staunch supporters.
That the bar will never be high enough.
Do you have a story you want to share? Please contact us by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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