How Trump Has Used Debates to Belittle Women

The New York Times ^ | Sept. 9, 2024, 12:30 p.m. ET | Jess Bidgood

[E. Pluribus Unum]

It seems a strange twist of American history that the only man to have run against two female nominees in two presidential elections is one with a long and explicit record of denigrating women.

From the earliest days of his presidential candidacy in 2015 to a Trump Tower news conference on Friday, Donald J. Trump has repeatedly attempted to attack, embarrass and threaten the women standing in his way — especially on the debate stage.

Mr. Trump has, of course, treated men with intense bellicosity, launching a blizzard of interruptions against President Biden during their first debate in 2020 and lobbing personal insults at the likes of Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz during the primary in 2016.

But a review of his onstage clashes with women shows how, over nine years in politics, he has honed a playbook of explicitly gendered attacks against both female candidates and journalists that he is likely to draw from on Tuesday when he debates Vice President Kamala Harris. Mr. Trump has used his physical presence and body language to intimidate women, made veiled threats, complained that they were uniquely mean and belittled their qualifications in a way that many women view as open sexism.

In fact, the first time he ever spoke of a female presidential candidate on a debate stage, it was to brag about the control he had over her.

“I said, ‘Be at my wedding,’ and she came to my wedding, you know why?” Mr. Trump said, answering a question about his previous donations to Hillary Clinton in the first Republican primary debate in 2015. “She had no choice, because I gave.”

The Trump campaign defended his treatment of women and female journalists during debates.

[Kudsman]

I was thinking more the “bleeding from wherever” RETORT, but Rosie works too.

[Kudsman]

They are trying to soften the ground for a Harris counter-attack.

Precisely.

So fire a broadside. Like my terminology? Broadside, get it? Nvmd.

[Da Coyote]

Ted Kennedy used a car to kill a woman. Massachutes voters didn’t give a sh**.

Neither did you, NYT.
So, shove it up your leftist Obamahole.

[Tipllub]

So women get to either be the fearless “girl boss” or the wounded damsel in distress, depending on which situation is more convenient?

News flash: Trump belittles all of his debate opponents, man or woman.. Ask Jeb!

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Compared to Clinton, he’s an amateur.

[Sicon]

Ah, the Old Gray Liar. All the propaganda that’s fit to print.

[ridesthemiles]

THE NYT is killing off itself.

[Kid Shelleen]

Only Rosie O’Donnell....

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Only Rosie O’Donnell....

Touché.

[NFHale]

Well, NYT, if the high heel shoe fits…

When you’re dealing with bitches, you don’t throw softball pitches.

[DownInFlames]

If they’re stupid, thats too bad.

[odawg]

“Donald J. Trump has repeatedly attempted to attack, embarrass and threaten the women standing in his way — especially on the debate stage.”

Trump has only directly debated one woman, and that was Hillary Clinton, who was about as nasty to him on the debate stage as she could muster, and since she is a bottomless abyss of spite and venom, that was a lot.

And while campaigning, the Hindu was also as nasty and hateful as she could get.

People at Times are a bunch of lying snakes.

[Scarlett156]

Reality belittles women who don’t understand whatever game it is they are playing, and expect for men to give them an extra break where a man can NEVER expect one. (Like in a political campaign, for just one example.)

(Reality doesn’t just go after women, of course! Lots of men don’t understand, or want to understand, the game they’re trying to play, either, and expect to get a handicap - like Ron Desantis, for example!)

[Sgt_Schultze]

lol!

It’s hysterical how the eneMedia is anxious about Trump attacking Harris, so they can swoop in and denounce his sexism and misogyny. Imagine trying to make the claim your candidate has the chops to stand up against the enemies of humanity, while whining about unfair treatment by a political opponent.

[I want the USA back]

This is a signal that all good democrats are to accuse Trump of denigrating harris during the debate.

[Kudsman]

She's a flower now you know? She used to be a prosecutor, dealing with the dregs of society. I'm sure they all called her your highness too eh? Doubt it.

The only ones sucking her ass now is the dying media. She is whatever they need her to be. Heck it's almost like she is Obama.

[alloysteel]

This debate will not be a reprise of the 2016 debate with Hillary Rodham Clinton. The microphones will be muted, and there will be no circling on the stage.

For one thing, Hillary, Herself, is an awful lot smarter than “Que mala” Harris, and could speak in composed sentences. “Que mala” will be an unhappy and flustered debater before the evening is over, unable to make her points clear to either Donald Trump or the audience. Perhaps, at the last moment, there will be an “unavoidable” crisis so the entire debate must be called off.

There is almost anywhere in the world “Que mala” would rather be, than on that stage tomorrow night.

[TexasFreeper2009]

If these “women” can’t take the heat, they need to get out of the kitchen!

[Kudsman]

Well...that and the Cheneys. Smh

[Kudsman]

You have wonderful insight. I both congratulate you and thank you for sharing.