Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York has criticized President Donald Trump in recent days for what she perceived to be a “sexist” personal attack against her, but she declined to say definitively whether an attack using similar language that Trump leveled at former GOP Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was also sexist in nature.
In March 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Portland, Maine, said of Romney’s refusal to support his candidacy:
I don’t know what happened to him. You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, ‘Mitt, drop to your knees.’ He would have dropped to his knees. [Emphasis added]
Asked whether the remark constituted a “sexual attack,” Gillibrand responded simply “I don’t know.”
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
“The president says whatever he wants whenever he wants. I don’t think that level of discourse, however, is what this country wants,” she told the Washington Examiner.
Trump castigated Gillibrand and said she would “do anything” for donations in a Tuesday morning tweet that many Democratic lawmakers have labeled sexist and unworthy of the presidency.
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 tweet was an apparent response to Gillibrand’s joining fellow Democratic senators in insisting that Trump should step down due to the numerous outstanding allegations of sexual misconduct against him. The calls for Trump’s resignation came after three of Trump’s accusers appeared on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today” Monday to recount his alleged inappropriate behavior.
Gillibrand rebuked Trump’s comments and assured her constituents she would “not be silenced” in a Tuesday tweet sent in response to Trump’s criticism.
You cannot silence me or the millions of women who have gotten off the sidelines to speak out about the unfitness and shame you have brought to the Oval Office. https://t.co/UbQZqubXZv
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 12, 2017
She also continued her call for Trump’s resignation and reiterated that she would not be silenced during a Tuesday press conference.
“It was a sexist smear attempting to silence my voice, and I will not be silenced on this issue,” she said. “Neither will the women who stood up to the president yesterday.”
Democratic Sen. [score]Elizabeth Warren[/score] of Massachusetts joined the conversation Tuesday afternoon, accusing Trump of “slut-shaming” Gillibrand and sarcastically wishing him good luck in his attempt to intimidate her.
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
A host of fellow Democratic lawmakers chimed in to support Gillibrand and derided Trump for his sexism.
This report, by Jack Crowe, was cross posted by arrangement with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
