In this video from May, Ivanka Trump, daughter of Donald, refutes a New York Times article that interviewed several women who had worked for Donald Trump and claimed that he had engaged in inappropriate and in some cases harassing workplace behavior:
The New York Times interviewed dozens of women who had worked with or for Mr. Trump over the past four decades, in the worlds of real estate, modeling and pageants; women who had dated him or interacted with him socially; and women and men who had closely observed his conduct since his adolescence. In all, more than 50 interviews were conducted over the course of six weeks.
Their accounts — many relayed here in their own words — reveal unwelcome romantic advances, unending commentary on the female form, a shrewd reliance on ambitious women, and unsettling workplace conduct, according to the interviews, as well as court records and written recollections. The interactions occurred in his offices at Trump Tower, at his homes, at construction sites and backstage at beauty pageants. They appeared to be fleeting, unimportant moments to him, but they left lasting impressions on the women who experienced them.
For the brief moment that the news media will pay attention to anything related to Donald Trump, this was a blockbuster story. Even Chris Wallace pushed back on Reince Priebus to get at how it was that Donald Trump could harass women in the workplace and still be a Republican candidate for President. Reince said, "Nobody cares, ...Benghazi!"
And then three days later Donald Trump went on Hannity and called Bill Clinton a rapist and the media went off on three thousand other stories about what Donald said today.
As we approach the general election, however, there is a bit more focus to what the media is saying about Donald Trump. Themes, if you will.
One, that Donald Trump lies a lot.
Two, that without released tax returns, his weird relationship with Vladimir Putin is at best deeply troubling, at middle, disqualifying, at worst, treasonous.
And three, that he's really horrible about, to, and for women.
On theme three this week, a USA Today interview published yesterday. Donald Trump is asked what advice he would give if his daughter Ivanka was being sexually harassed at work.
"I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case."
I know better than to ask "wait, what?" about anything Donald Trump says.
He's already defended Roger Ailes as "a good person."
And then there's this:
It's a man's world for Donald Trump. A sexually harassing man's world.
