‘Presidential Harassment’ Isn’t Real, But Sexual Harassment Is

Sexual+harassment+should+be+more+associated+with+President+Donald+Trump+than+presidential+harassment.

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Sexual harassment should be more associated with President Donald Trump than “presidential harassment.”

Kristina Vakhman, News Editor

President Donald Trump has a talent for coining catchy terms with useless meanings. His latest creation is “presidential harassment,” a response to the House Intelligence Committee opening a series of investigations into his ties with Russia and other foreign powers, according to The New York Times.

“Presidential harassment” is not a real thing. But the more than 20 women who have accused Trump of sexual harassment, of whom 13 have corroborated stories compiled in a Washington Post article, are very much real. And you should not forget about them, nor should you forget about or make up excuses for Trump’s past and continuing history of degrading and abusing women.

Trump openly admitted to sexual harassment on an “Access Hollywood” tape in 2016. Remember that? Yes, with all of the mess coming out of the White House day after day, gems like “grab ’em by the pussy” and “I just start kissing them” have collected dust. But Trump said that, no less openly on tape, and became president anyway because Republicans in office, despite claiming that they were appalled as parents to daughters, supported him anyway.

That tape was not even the only time Trump confessed to misconduct. During a 2005 interview with Howard Stern, Trump said that he went into pageant dressing rooms unannounced while contestants were “standing there with no clothes” and that he “[got] away with things like that” because he was the owner. However, by that thinking, any CEO anywhere would be allowed to harass his employees just because “they were the owner.”

The accusations against Trump span decades and in severity. People Magazine writer Natasha Stoynoff alleged in a 2016 People article that in 2005, when interviewing Trump and wife Melania about their first anniversary, Trump lured her into a room, pushed her against the wall and forced his tongue down her throat. The “Access Hollywood” tape triggered her, she wrote, and encouraged her to speak out after years of blaming herself for the assault. Five individuals, including two People colleagues, corroborated Stoynoff’s story, according to the Post.

Jessica Leeds told the Times in 2016 that Trump assaulted her on a plane in the 1970’s, his hands “everywhere” like an “octopus.” Four people close to her verified her story with the Times and a British witness who said Trump had done nothing wrong himself has multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him, according to The Guardian. She also said he called her a “c***” when he saw her three years later, presumably for rejecting his inappropriate advances.

Regardless of the validity of the over 20 women’s allegations, Trump has publicly degraded women. Whether it be saying former Fox News host Megyn Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever,” calling pornographic film actress Stephanie “Stormy Daniels” Clifford “horseface,” or endorsing candidates like alleged child predator Roy Moore, Trump has presented many examples that show how little he thinks of women and their safety. And many incumbent Republicans have been behind him through it all.

Late-night comedian Stephen Colbert joked during an episode of his show last week that “presidential harassment” is “like sexual harassment, only Republicans take it seriously.” But that’s not even a joke. That’s reality. Time and time again, we have seen Republicans in the U.S. Congress condemn Trump’s behaviors toward women, but still support him. Democrats, on the other hand, do not hesitate to throw their accused into a pit of fire.

Investigations don’t constitute harassment. “Presidential harassment,” likewise, is a myth. But grabbing, groping, kissing and shoving women without their consent is sexual harassment and it’s real.

Trump likes to play the victim card when he himself has victimized women. Despite his misconduct, he’s the president, so even if it’s not possible for him to grow new hair, it’s time to grow some thick skin.