President Donald Trump used the announcement of a new trade agreement between the United States, Mexico, and Canada on Monday to act like a complete asshole to not one but two female journalists who had the unmitigated gall to...ask him topical questions when he called on them. And it only went downhill from there.
First there was ABC’s Cecelia Vega, whom Trump called on by saying, “She’s shocked that I picked her. She’s like in a state of shock.”
Standing to ask her question, Vega said “I’m not, thank you Mr. President.”
“That’s OK. I know you’re not thinking,” Trump responded. “You never do.”
But the president wasn’t done. Next up was CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, who asked Trump about his Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, who is currently under FBI investigation over his alleged sexual assault of several women.
“Don’t do that!” Trump patronizingly admonished—complete with finger wagging—over and over again, pointedly refusing to answer her question.
Despite his protestations, Trump couldn’t help himself, and eventually began addressing the Kavanaugh controversy itself. It went about as well as you’d expect.
Trump brought up Kavanaugh’s drinking:
Expressed his profound sympathy for Kavanaugh’s family (and none for his alleged victims):
And spread some entirely unspecified allegations that he’d seen an anonymous Democratic senator in some “very bad” and “compromising” situations.
Given the increasingly toxic atmosphere surrounding Trump’s nominee, and the indifference—if not outright hostility—this administration has shown toward women who have alleged sexual assault, you might think Trump would be a little more cautious about being such an uncompromising dick to women who ask him pertinent questions about Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Then again, this is Donald Trump, so duh, of course that’s not happening.