Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand lashed out at President Trump on Wednesday, calling him a “bully” after he tweeted a “sexist smear” that she “would do anything” for campaign contributions.
“He’s a bully and he’s been attacking different people across this country since he’s been president,” the junior senator from New York said in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show.
Democrat Gillibrand incurred Trump’s wrath when she called for him to resign amid numerous sexual misconduct claims that more than a dozen women have lodged against him.
“Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office ‘begging’ for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump,” he tweeted Tuesday.
“Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!”
Many Democrats interpreted his words as sexual innuendo — despite the White House’s denials — and called for an ethics investigation into the president.
“Today” host Savannah Guthrie asked Gillibrand, 51, whether she interpreted his tweet to mean she had been willing to trade sexual favors for campaign cash.
“Certainly that’s how I and many people read it,” she said, nodding. “It was a sexist smear — intended to silence me.
“He’s often berated women and made them feel that they cannot be heard as well,” she added.
Gillibrand also invoked the #MeToo movement, in which women have shared stories of sexual harassment or assault.
“I think this is a moment in time unlike any other with the #MeToo movement,” she said. “Women are feeling the ability to tell what happened to them, some of the worst moments they’ve lived, and tell it publicly and that is powerful and it is affecting everything. People are looking for justice. You are seeing quick justice, whether it’s in Hollywood or in corporate America or in Congress.
“If you put that in the context of multiple accusers who have accused him of sexual assault and sexual harassment, that are credible, you need accountability and I think what people do want is accountability and he should resign,” she said.
“And if he’s unwilling to, Congress should investigate,” she added.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Tuesday that Trump’s tweet was meant as a critique of the current campaign finance system and special interests.
His words were in no way sexist, Sanders insisted, because he’s used them previously in reference to both male and female lawmakers.
“Only if your mind is in the gutter would you have read” the tweet as sexual innuendo, she insisted.