President Donald Trump has unleashed a backlash for mocking the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford, one of three women who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct.
Speaking before a crowd of supporters at a rally in Southhaven, Mississippi, Trump mocked Ford for her memory of the party in the early 1980s where she alleged that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her.
"What neighborhood was it in?" Trump asked the crowd as he imitated Ford, the BBC reported. "I don't know. Where's the house?' I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs, where was it?' I don't know, but I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember. And a man's life is in tatters," Trump said.
Among those who struck back at the president for his comments was one of Ford's lawyers, Michael Bromwich, who tweeted: " vicious, vile and soulless attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
"Is it any wonder that she was terrified to come forward, and that other sexual assault survivors are as well? She is a remarkable profile in courage. He is a profile in cowardice," he tweeted.
A vicious, vile and soulless attack on Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. Is it any wonder that she was terrified to come forward, and that other sexual assault survivors are as well? She is a remarkable profile in courage. He is a profile in cowardice. https://t.co/UJ0bGxV1EZ
— Michael R. Bromwich (@mrbromwich) October 3, 2018
A number of Twitter users also weighed in onTrump's comments at the rally, with several mentioning the negative message they believed the president's words sent to survivors of sexual assault.
Trump just stood mocking Dr Ford at a rally. Mocked her every word. THIS is why sexual assault victims do NOT come forward. What an absolute disgraceful display from anyone let alone a president.
— Jennifer Esposito (@JennifersWayJE) October 3, 2018
The president also commented on the allegations of the third woman who come forward, Julie Swetnick, during a press conference on Monday.
""Did you see that interview?" Trump said at the Tuesday night rally, referring to Swetnick.
"This woman had no clue what was going on. No clue. Yet she made the most horrible charges against a...great father, great husband," he said, while reiterating his support for the Supreme Court nominee, The Hill reported.
At the Monday night press conference, when the president was asked about the investigation into the accusations, he said of the women who had come forward: "I imagine they are going to interview two. The third one [Swetnick] I don't know much about… It wouldn't bother me at all. I mean, I have heard that the third one has… I have no idea if this is true, very little credibility."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
