At most other times in our nation’s history, during most other presidencies, a visit from the president at “Conversations with the Women of America” would bring favorable light to the commander in chief. He attended this event, so he must not be a misogynist, right?
Wrong.
Many people across the country view the current president as someone who, at the very least, has shown sexist traits. For him to attend this event, even as a drop-in, mocks the women’s movement. President Trump and his staff should have known better. If they truly cared about eliminating oppression of women, they would have kept Trump away from this event.
The event at the White House on Jan. 16 hosted hundreds of guests and centered around a panel of speakers. It focused on discussing issues important to women in our country, including health care.
Isn’t it a little bit shady that a president who has supported health care bills that largely ignore women’s health would choose to drop in to an event that was supposed to enhance the discussion of women’s advancement in our country? Not to mention the fact that at the event, Trump reportedly took time to shame Hillary Clinton and, once again, boast about his presidential victory over a year ago. Hillary Clinton was the first woman to win a major party’s presidential nomination, and Trump decides to mock her at an event for women’s advancement? That’s shameful.
And then there’s the fact that Trump has been accused of sexual misconduct by many women.
Although the president has denied any misconduct on his part, the volume of accusations and prevalence in headlines certainly creates an association between Trump and sexual misconduct. No one knows with certainty if the allegations against him are true — although the president has already given false information about some aspects of his denial (i.e. that he never met the women) — but for this event, it doesn’t even matter if they are or not. What matters is the association and the overwhelming shadow his presence at this event creates over the women’s movement.
Now, don’t get me wrong; none of the women who attended this event need the support of the executive office at all. Women across our country and the world are stronger and louder than the support of a powerful man. But that doesn’t mean that Trump’s visit to this event should be ignored. No — it should be ridiculed because he has consistently shown that he does not support women’s empowerment. As women, we don’t have time for this hypocrisy and disrespect.