President Donald Trump is being accused of “creepily flirting” with a top Irish journalist after interrupting a diplomatic phone call to comment on her smile.
The U.S. President was on the phone with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar—and the pair were meant to be discussing issues (say, Brexit)—when Trump became distracted.
“We have a lot of your Irish press watching us,” he told Varadka as the press corps watched, covering the call in the Oval Office. Trump then beckoned over Caitriona Perry, Washington correspondent for Ireland’s National Television and Radio Broadcaster.
“And where are you from?” Trump asked Perry, before returning to Varadka on the phone to note that “we have all of this beautiful Irish press.”
But he couldn’t leave it there. Added Trump to Varadkar: “She has a nice smile on her face so I bet she treats you well.”
Ew ew ewwww.
It’s time to stop mocking Melania Trump. Post continues below.
Perry kept her head high as she left the room. She later posted a video of the exchange to Twitter calling it a “bizarre moment.”
Video of the bizarre moment when President @realDonaldTrump called me over during his call with Taoiseach @campaignforLeo Varadkar. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/TMl2SFQaji
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) June 27, 2017
Fellow Tweeters have been fast to label the incident “creepy,” with many apologising on behalf of the President.
Others have pushed back at Perry, “explaining” (mansplaining?) that Trump was just paying her a compliment.
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I don't think saying someone has a nice smile is sexual harassment. If he said she had a nice butt or boobs that would be very different. I like most of trump's policies but also think he is a misogynist.
But why did he feel it necessary to comment on her smile at all? He could have said "We have all of this beautiful Irish press" and left it at that. He singled her out in a way he never would have done to a man. He has a long history of sexist behaviour. This may be fairly tame for him, but it's still shows his disrespect for women. (See also his recent comments about Mika Brzezinski.)
The key to working out whether it was sexual in nature is to ask yourself; would he say that a male has a nice smile? If not - there is your answer. It might not be sexual harassment but it sure is inappropriate and if he wouldn't say it to a male, well......
No, the article calls his behavior inappropriate, not sexual harassment.
Irrelevant, the comment was demeaning.
He's such a creep. New flash, Trumpie: Women tend not to like this, especially when they are trying to do their jobs