OPINION: President-elect Donald Trump’s history of sexual violence
Photo via Oleg Yunakov/Public domain/Wikimedia Commons
Amelia Henson, a Freshman studying Journalism, argues that Donald Trump’s history of sexual violence should be terrifying to the nation that just elected him.
It’s common knowledge that President-elect Donald Trump is no stranger to sexual assault and harassment allegations. Trump has a long history of disgusting behavior toward women.
At least 26 women have alleged that Trump has committed some form of sexual assault or misconduct. Women have accused him of groping them under their dresses or skirts, kissing them without consent, walking into beauty pageant dressing rooms while the contestants were changing their clothes and even rape.
Trump himself has also made countless disturbing sexual and sexist remarks against women. In 2016, the Washington Post published a hot mic clip of Trump talking with Billy Bush before an Access Hollywood interview. In the audio clip, Trump said, “I just start kissing [beautiful women]. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait.” He goes on to say, “And when you’re a star, they let you do anything,” he continues, “You can do anything…grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.”
Trump’s remarks are vulgar and derogatory, but sadly his words seem to be completely consistent with his behavior.
Multiple women have claimed Donald Trump has groped their genitals and/or kissed them without consent. Jessica Leeds told The New York Times in 2016 that Trump had groped her breast and reached his hand under her skirt on an airplane. Cathy Heller claims Trump kissed her forcibly at a brunch in the 1990s, Amy Dorris claims Trump forcibly kissed and groped her at the U.S. Open in 1997, Natasha Casie said Trump forced her against a wall where he began “forcing his tongue” down her throat. These examples are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Trump’s countless sexual assault allegations. Most of the women who have come forward seem to have very similar stories.
Journalist and author best known for her advice column in Elle magazine, E. Jean Carroll, made headlines with her story about Trump. Carroll claims Trump raped her in the dressing room of a store. Trump denies the claim, saying he doesn’t know Carroll. In 2023, Carroll took Trump to court and won the defamation and sex abuse lawsuit. Trump did not appear in court for the reading of the verdict, though he did take to social media to say the verdict was “a disgrace” and a “continuation of the greatest witch hunt of all time.” E. Jean Carroll is the only woman to prove Trump’s actions of sexual abuse in court.
From 1996 to 2015, Trump co-owned The Miss Universe organization, which includes the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Teen USA Pageant. In 2016, five contestants in the Miss Teen USA Pageants came forward telling Buzzfeed that Trump had walked into their dressing room while they were changing clothes.
These contestants not only didn’t give Trump consent to be in the dressing room, but many of them were minors, some as young as 15 years old. In 1997, Trump walked into the changing room of the teen pageant. According to Mariah Billado, the former Miss Teen Vermont, said, “I remember putting on my dress really quickly because I was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s a man in here.’” According to the girls, Trump said, “Don’t worry ladies, I’ve seen it all before.” These girls are teenagers who were violated by a grown man in their dressing room. It does not matter if Trump owned the organization or was just an observer, no one has the right to enter a dressing room, especially that of teenage girls.
Trump has also been accused of the same thing at an adult pageant. Former Miss USA Contestant Samantha Holley told CNN that Trump would inspect the contestants, looking at them like “sexual objects.” She said it made her feel “the dirtiest I felt in my entire life.” On the Howard Stern Show in 2005, when talking about the Miss Universe organization and pageants, Trump admitted he would go backstage before the shows. He was the only man in the room while the women were “standing there with no clothes.” He goes on to say, “I sort of get away with things like that.” Trump violated the women who were there to compete. Trump seemed to treat these women as if they were only there for his enjoyment.
One of the most damning pieces of evidence against Trump and his predatory behavior against women and girls is his long deep-rooted history with Jeffery Epstein. It is well known that Epstein was a sexual predator and pedophile. Epstein was arrested for sex trafficking minors and died in prison by suicide in 2019.
The Daily Beast released audio tapes that include Jeffery Epstein speaking with author Michael Woldd about Trump. In the audio, Epstein says he was Trump’s best friend for a decade. Although there is no equation to determine if the two were as close as Epstein claims or not, it is clear they spent time together. Donald Trump was spotted at many of Epstein’s parties in the 90s and 2000s. In 2002, Trump told New York magazine that Epstein was a “terrific guy.”
In 2016, a woman under the pseudonym Katie Johnson filed a civil case against Trump and Epstein for sexually violating her when she was a minor. In the court documents, Johnson claims Trump and Epstein made her a “sex slave,” during the months of June through September 1994, when she was only 13 years old. Johnson alleges she was promised money and a modeling career if she attended a series of parties at Epstein’s residence. Her claim of the promise of a career is very similar to Epstein’s other young victims who had similar experiences.
On one occasion, Johnson claims she was forced to perform oral sex on Trump. On another occasion Johnson says she was forced to perform sex acts with another young girl who was 12 years old. Johnson then claims that on her final encounter with Trump, she was tied to a bed and forcibly raped by Trump. Johnson said she loudly cried and screamed for him to stop and to wear a condom, but Trump did not comply with either.
A former employee of Epstein agreed to testify and corroborate the story of Jonson as a witness. She explains she did not come forward sooner because Trump and Epstein had threatened her life and her family's lives. She claims her decision to come forward was due to her suffering on a daily basis while having to observe Trump all over the media as he was running for president.
Johnson dropped her case in November 2016 after her lawyer claimed she was scared to appear in court or at a press conference due to threats she had been receiving.
Trump being voted into office once again by the American people only further proves that sexual assault, rape and misconduct are not a deal breaker. Actions such as those exhibited by Trump are dangerous and predatory, putting all women and girls around him in direct danger. The allegations against Trump seem to be very accurate, not only in the sense that the victims' stories all align with one another in some shape or form, but by his own words.
Trump has practically admitted to being a predator but for some reason, the country continues to overlook it. Trump is not above the law or humanity. His actions and words are inexcusable and disgusting. Trump’s election victory is a shameful reflection of the lack of respect and care for women in America. The way the people voted once again proves to American women that no matter how many times, how loudly and bravely you tell your story of sexual assault, the attacker may walk away with little to no consequences. All American women are violated by the results of this election. The man who is soon to be the most powerful person in the world has zero respect for the women of the country he is about to run.
Donald Trump’s victims consist of Jessica Leeds, Kristin Anderson, Stacey Willams, Jill Harth, Lisa Boyne, Victoria Hughes, E. Jean Carroll, Temple Taggart, Cathy Heller, Amy Dorris, Karena Virginia, Karen Johnson, Bridget Sullivan, Tasha Dixon, Melinda McGillivary, Natasha Stoynoff, Juliet Huddy, Rachel Crooks, Samantha Holvey, Ninni Laaksonen, Jessica Drake, Summer Zervos, Cassandra Serrles, Alva Johnson, Katie Jonson and all of the Jane Does that have not yet found their voice or have chosen to not share their story with the media.
Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.