We Found DECADES of Trump Defending Accused Sex Predators

In this episode of The Bulwark, hosts Sarah Longwell and Tim Miller discuss Donald Trump's consistent pattern of defending men accused of sexual misconduct and assault (0:05). The hosts argue that while some Republicans express outrage over specific political scandals—such as the case of Graham Platner—this reaction is deeply hypocritical given their ongoing support for Donald Trump (0:10-2:10).

Key takeaways from the discussion:

• The "Empathy Gene" for Predators: The hosts observe that Trump frequently displays empathy for men accused of sexual assault, often claiming that the accusations are "witch hunts" or that the accusers are seeking attention (1:05-1:30, 6:05-7:30).
• Archival Evidence: The video presents a series of clips demonstrating Trump's long-standing habit of defending accused men, including:
  • Herman Cain (2011): Trump dismissed the allegations as unfair (6:05-6:30).
  • Roy Moore (2017): Despite allegations involving teenagers, Trump campaigned for him and pressured the RNC to maintain support (8:35-10:05).
  • Bill Clinton (1998): Trump criticized the women who accused Clinton, labeling them an "unattractive group" (10:20-11:00).
  • Roger Ailes: Trump defended the former Fox News chief amidst sexual harassment claims (11:30-12:15).
  • Ghislaine Maxwell: Trump famously wished the convicted child sex trafficker "well" on multiple occasions (13:00-14:30).
  • Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson: The hosts highlight clips where Trump defended both men against allegations of child molestation and rape, respectively (14:48-16:15).
• Moral Authority: The hosts argue that because Trump has been accused of sexual assault by over two dozen women and has a history of misogynistic rhetoric, the GOP lacks the moral authority to criticize others on these grounds (2:35-3:30, 21:00-22:15).

The episode concludes by emphasizing that while self-reflection and accountability are important within any political coalition, the "high horse" rhetoric from those supporting a man with such a documented history of defending predators should be disregarded (20:12-22:25).