Recently, his supporters have popularised a hash tag urging politicians to repeal the nineteenth amendment. Over the years – even just over the course of his campaign – he has come out with outrageous, xenophobic, misogynistic and homophobic comments. Yes, Donald Trump is an altogether disgusting human being, one that is currently in arms reach of one of the most powerful jobs in the world.
On October 7th, a video was discovered and subsequently leaked by NBC, consisting of lewd and horrifying comments made by Donald Trump about sexual assault. The comments are laughed off by those that accompanied Trump in the Access Hollywood van, at a moment that the Republican nominee was likely unsuspecting that he was still being recorded. Having since defended his actions by brushing them off as locker room talk, outrage has been felt by people all over the world. Video responses from Tom Hanks and Robert De Niro have gone viral, and many media outlets have discussed the possibility of this signalling the final demise of Donald Trump.
His abhorrent reputation with women is undeniable, and the focus of many news articles as each of his horrendous comments that have been documented over the years are coming to the forefront and further supporting the status he holds as a misogynist. He may repeatedly insist that nobody respects women as much as he does, but in interviews spanning his career, Donald Trump has made inappropriate comments about his daughter, Ivanka, an eighteen-year old Paris Hilton, and is constantly displaying impudent behaviour towards Rosie O’Donnell.
Despite this leak becoming quite the October Surprise for Trump in the eyes of many, considering the number of key political figures that have retracted their support for the Republican nominee, this is not the end. No matter how much we might wish for it to be as much, it is undeniable that Trump has maintained a level of support from American citizens that is staggering considering his extreme views and constant faux pas. With mere weeks left until the election itself, there is no use in entertaining the attractive possibility of Trump being removed from the running. There is not enough time for a replacement to be rustled up from the Republican Party, and as perplexing as it may be to many of us, there is still support for the business tycoon.
Newfound outrage seemed to be encouraged by this video leak, but it has reached a point in the run up to the presidential election that it has to be said – are we even surprised? Nothing in Trump’s behaviour has even signified him holding an ounce of respect towards women, and an onslaught of media attention follows every misogynistic comment, despite there being nothing more to say. SNL mock him with Alec Baldwin at every opportunity, a multitude of news outlets condemn him at every turn, but that doesn’t change the facts. Donald Trump is a vile human being, an unsuccessful businessman, and the possible next President of the United States.
Elise Middleton
(Image courtesy of Reuters)