After Series of Controversial Remarks, Trump Refuses to Take Questions About Domestic Violence

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting about trade at the White House on Feb. 13. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

After Series of Controversial Remarks, Trump Refuses to Take Questions About Domestic Violence

His press secretary, meanwhile, claimed "we've condemned domestic violence in every way possible," despite several official statements praising former staffers accused of abuse

At a White House meeting to discuss trade policy with lawmakers and cabinet members on Tuesday, President Donald Trump declined to answer reporters' questions about domestic violence, despite the ongoing controversy over tweets and statements from the president and his press team about the recent resignations of two staffers who were publicly accused of abusing former spouses.

While the president refused to engage with reporters, White House Press Secretary Huckabee Sanders defended the Trump administration's responses to the allegations during a press briefing on Tuesday, claiming: "We've condemned domestic violence in every way possible," and, "The president takes all of these accusations very seriously. He believes in due process. Above anything else, he supports the victims of any type of violence and certainly would condemn any violence against anyone."

Sanders' statements built on the president's contentious tweet over the weekend, in which he decried false allegations of abuse and demanded "due process." Critics charged that his comment was "the most obvious demand that survivors, that women, just never speak," and pointed to the more than a dozen women who have accused Trump of "groping, fondling, forcibly kissing, humiliating, and harassing" them.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.