Trump's Insults Are the New Normal: How Far Can You Go Before It Becomes a Scandal?
In America today, the notion of "ugly" or "retarded" being hurled at a journalist would be seen as a scandal. However, for Donald Trump, these insults have become an everyday occurrence.
On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a rant on Truth Social about immigration, calling Governor Tim Walz an ableist slur and making an Islamophobic jab at Representative Ilhan Omar. He also insulted a female journalist who was asking him about the suspect in Wednesday's attack on two national guard members, telling her "are you stupid?" The president has a well-documented history of lashing out at women who challenge him.
Trump's recent behavior is remarkable even by his own low standards. In the past few weeks, he seems to be on a rage-filled downward spiral, taking much of his aggression out on female members of the media. He called Mary Bruce of ABC News "a terrible person" after she asked about Mohammed bin Salman, the visiting Saudi crown prince, and criticized Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg's White House correspondent, by telling her to "quiet, piggy."
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, seems to be following Trump's lead in insulting female journalists. When Jane Meyer wrote on X that the attack on the national guardsmen was "so tragic, so unnecessary," Cheung responded with a misogynistic comment, saying "Jane, respectfully, shut the fuck up for trying to politicize this tragedy."
The problem is not just that Trump insults these women; it's also that his behavior sends a message about what he thinks of press freedom and women. When he attacks female journalists, he opens them up to harassment from his acolytes. Mary Trump, the president's niece, has noted that her uncle's "misogynistic attacks against reporters … are increasing" and believes this points to two things: that he's increasingly comfortable lodging such attacks, and that he's a little rattled because the pressure is getting to him.
This behavior is not unique to Trump; it's also becoming more common among his acolytes. The US is slowly moving towards a place where journalists live under heavy surveillance, media outlets stick to the government narrative, and critical tweets can get you locked up. Mary Trump is right that the president is "increasingly comfortable" attacking female journalists.
It's worth noting that while some women may overlook Trump's insults, many others are speaking out against his behavior. Despite being called a sexual predator by a New York jury, Trump still maintains a significant following among white women. However, this support comes at a cost; it means that women who speak out against him are often silenced.
As experts warn of a "global crisis" as the number of women in prison nears 1 million, it's clear that something needs to be done about the way we treat women and the media. The fact that Trump can call female reporters "piggy" all he likes without facing consequences is a symptom of a larger problem.
It's time for us to recognize that this kind of behavior is not acceptable and that we need to take action to create a more just and equitable society.
In America today, the notion of "ugly" or "retarded" being hurled at a journalist would be seen as a scandal. However, for Donald Trump, these insults have become an everyday occurrence.
On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a rant on Truth Social about immigration, calling Governor Tim Walz an ableist slur and making an Islamophobic jab at Representative Ilhan Omar. He also insulted a female journalist who was asking him about the suspect in Wednesday's attack on two national guard members, telling her "are you stupid?" The president has a well-documented history of lashing out at women who challenge him.
Trump's recent behavior is remarkable even by his own low standards. In the past few weeks, he seems to be on a rage-filled downward spiral, taking much of his aggression out on female members of the media. He called Mary Bruce of ABC News "a terrible person" after she asked about Mohammed bin Salman, the visiting Saudi crown prince, and criticized Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg's White House correspondent, by telling her to "quiet, piggy."
Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, seems to be following Trump's lead in insulting female journalists. When Jane Meyer wrote on X that the attack on the national guardsmen was "so tragic, so unnecessary," Cheung responded with a misogynistic comment, saying "Jane, respectfully, shut the fuck up for trying to politicize this tragedy."
The problem is not just that Trump insults these women; it's also that his behavior sends a message about what he thinks of press freedom and women. When he attacks female journalists, he opens them up to harassment from his acolytes. Mary Trump, the president's niece, has noted that her uncle's "misogynistic attacks against reporters … are increasing" and believes this points to two things: that he's increasingly comfortable lodging such attacks, and that he's a little rattled because the pressure is getting to him.
This behavior is not unique to Trump; it's also becoming more common among his acolytes. The US is slowly moving towards a place where journalists live under heavy surveillance, media outlets stick to the government narrative, and critical tweets can get you locked up. Mary Trump is right that the president is "increasingly comfortable" attacking female journalists.
It's worth noting that while some women may overlook Trump's insults, many others are speaking out against his behavior. Despite being called a sexual predator by a New York jury, Trump still maintains a significant following among white women. However, this support comes at a cost; it means that women who speak out against him are often silenced.
As experts warn of a "global crisis" as the number of women in prison nears 1 million, it's clear that something needs to be done about the way we treat women and the media. The fact that Trump can call female reporters "piggy" all he likes without facing consequences is a symptom of a larger problem.
It's time for us to recognize that this kind of behavior is not acceptable and that we need to take action to create a more just and equitable society.
. Trump's constant insults are literally becoming the new normal and it's absolutely disgusting 
. Newsflash: being called "ugly" or using derogatory terms for ableism or Islamophobia isn't funny or acceptable, it's a serious issue that needs to be addressed 
. And let's not forget how he constantly lashes out at women who dare to ask him tough questions - it's like, hello, press freedom is not just about being heard but also about being treated with respect 
.
. And what's really concerning is that his acolytes are starting to follow suit, it's like they're perpetuating this toxic culture of misogyny 
. We need to take a stand and say enough is enough, we need to hold our leaders accountable for their actions and create a society where women can speak out without fear of harassment or retaliation 
.
these days, i'm low-key scared for the future of press freedom and women's rights 
but seriously, what's next? Are we going to start arresting people for having opinions that don't align with your twisted worldview? 
I'm kinda worried about the direction this is headed. Trump's behavior might be seen as a reflection of his base, but it's also creating a culture where women are being disrespected & harassed by those in power 
.
I mean, he's still gonna have his base that thinks he's the coolest dude ever, but at what cost? Women are tired of being disrespected and silenced. And what's with all these guys who wanna be like Trump, throwing shade at female journalists? 
It's not cool, it's not funny, it's just mean. We need to call them out on this stuff and make sure they know that kind of behavior isn't acceptable in public life.
. We can't just sit back and let this kind of behavior continue. We gotta stand up for women and the media, even if it means ruffling some feathers 
I'm really worried about the state of media in America right now. Trump's constant insults towards female journalists are just a drop in the ocean, but they're also super telling. Like, if he can get away with calling people "piggy" all the time without anyone shutting him down, it means we've got some serious problems to solve. 
. Like, what even is the point of having free press if you're gonna get roasted like this? 
I mean, who needs dignity or respect when you're a journalist? It's not like they're asking for special treatment or anything 
. I mean, what's next? Is everyone just gonna stand by and let him bully women in the media? 
where it's hard to even watch him on social media without feeling sick to your stomach 
. I mean, come on, calling a female journalist "piggy" is just low 
. And what's really concerning is that his behavior is starting to normalize misogynistic comments among his followers 
. It's like they're emboldened by his actions and feel it's okay to speak up with similar hate speech 
. When we allow this kind of behavior to go unchecked, it creates a culture where women are not taken seriously and their voices are silenced 
and create safe spaces for women to speak up without fear of retaliation 
. It's time for us to recognize that this kind of behavior is not acceptable and that we need to take concrete steps to change it 
.
. This, to me, points to two things: that he's becoming increasingly comfortable with his own bias 
. Either way, it's clear that something needs to be done 
.
. And we need to hold men in power accountable for their actions 
. Like, are we really at a point where calling someone "piggy" is okay? Newsflash: it's not. And what's even more concerning is that his behavior is being normalized by some of his own people 
. It's like they're all in on some twisted game of "let's see how mean we can be to women" 
. Like, what is it about his ego and entitlement that's so appealing to some people? I just don't get it 
. It's like the US is slowly slipping into a place where women are not taken seriously or valued 
.
. It shows that there are people who enable this kind of behavior and make it seem acceptable.