After the Harvey Weinstein scandal, Donald Trump's accusers ask why he remains unscathed
Now that sexual harassment allegations have toppled powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, women who accused Donald Trump are wondering why the President was unaffected.
A cascade of women saying they were harassed or assaulted by Mr Weinstein - accusations he denies - has led to Mr Weinstein’s ousting from his film company. News accounts relaying their claims have depicted a decades-long history of Mr Weinstein making unwanted advances.
Similar accusations have trailed Mr Trump, with multiple women describing unsolicited sexual overtures (Mr Trump has denied those claims). Audio in which Mr Trump boasted about sexually assaulting women leaked in the final days of the campaign, which Mr Trump at the time dismissed as inconsequential “locker room talk”.
Many political observers at the time proclaimed Mr Trump had no path to victory as numerous Republicans condemned the comments or disassociated themselves. But Mr Trump won, of course, and as his accusers watch Mr Weinstein’s downfall they wonder why Mr Trump did not suffer a similar fate, according to The Washington Post.
“It is hard to reconcile that Harvey Weinstein could be brought down with this, and [President] Trump just continues to be the Teflon Don,” Jessica Leeds, who said Mr Trump grabbed her and attempted to kiss her on a flight, told the Post, adding that she it was “really upsetting” to see the President “just keeps merrily going along”.
A woman who sued Mr Trump for allegedly groping her vented a similar frustration on Twitter.
Sad you had to go through it. My pain is everyday with bastard Trump as President. No one gets it unless it happens to them. NO one!
— Jill Harth (@jillharth) October 10, 2017
Many conservative critics and Republican party officials have reacted to the news about Mr Weinstein by accusing Democrats of hypocrisy, noting that the producer was a prolific supporter of liberal politicians.
DNC refuses to give up $300K in dirty Harvey Weinstein contributions & now even a Dem senator is calling them out https://t.co/y1lcGsIAKu
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) October 8, 2017
.@larryelder slams Hillary Clinton for comparing President Trump to Harvey Weinstein: “Phony, hypocritical, double standard” pic.twitter.com/CoWLNM8VYQ
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) October 16, 2017
Social media users pushed back on that argument, pointing to Republican support for Fox News heavyweight Bill O’Reilly - who reportedly paid $32 million to settle a harassment claim - and for Mr Trump.
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