Donald Trump calls sex accuser a ‘wack job’ – and refuses to say who he wants to win Ukraine war
The ex-president mocks his accuser’s claims – despite a jury finding him liable for assaulting her. Mr Trump also makes bold claims about his ability to end the Ukraine war and says he would probably pardon most of those involved in the Capitol riots.
Thursday 11 May 2023 08:36, UK
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Donald Trump insults sex assault accuser and refuses to be drawn on Ukraine war.
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Donald Trump called the woman he sexually abused a lying “wack job” and refused to say who he wants to win the Ukraine war in a wide-ranging interview on US television.
A jury in a civil case ruled this week that he assaulted – but didn’t rape – E Jean Carroll in a department store changing room in the 1990s.
In an interview a day after the verdict, Mr Trump again insisted it was a “fake story” and mocked the magazine writer’s version of events.
“What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and within minutes, you’re playing hanky panky in a dressing room?” he said.
He also doubled down on his claim that the “Clinton-appointed” judge was biased and didn’t treat him fairly.
Mr Trump was ordered to pay $5m (£4m) compensation to Ms Carroll, which also includes damages for defaming her after he claimed she made up the story.
His lawyer has confirmed they will appeal. He won’t face a prison sentence either way because it wasn’t a criminal case.
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E. Jean Carroll reacts as she exits the Manhattan Federal Court following the verdict in the civil rape accusation case against former U.S. President Donald Trump, in New York City, U.S., May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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Asked by the CNN interviewer if the verdict would deter women from voting for him, he replied: “No, I don’t think so.”
The ex-president was also questioned about infamous remarks during a TV show in 2005, in which he talked about grabbing women “by the p****”.
The comments also came up in the trial, and in the ‘town hall’ programme on Wednesday night he declined to apologise for them.
E Jean Carroll gives her thoughts after a jury decided that Donald Trump sexually abused her in the 1990s. She says she is 'overwhelmed with happiness' after 'getting my name back'.1:55
Play Video – ‘This is about getting my name back’
Trump accuser: ‘This is about getting my name back’
The 76-year-old said he wasn’t talking about himself, but generally about the power that comes with being a celebrity.
“They said ‘will you take that back?’ I said, look, for a million years this is the way it’s been. I want to be honest this is the way it’s been,” he told CNN.
Many women have accused the former president of sexual assault or harassment over the years but he denies all the claims.
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SkyNews Martha Kelner, Sports Correspondent.
Martha Kelner
US correspondent
@marthakelner
It was some introduction.
“Tonight President Trump is here as he embarks on a campaign unlike any other in the history of US presidential elections,” said CNN Town Hall host Kaitlan Collins.
She added at Wednesday’s event: “He is facing multiple criminal investigations and an indictment. Just yesterday, he was found liable for sexual abuse and defamation. We’re here to give voters the answers that they deserve.”
But after more than an hour on stage, you couldn’t help but feel this was less an opportunity to challenge and scrutinise the former president and more of a platform for Donald Trump to peddle disinformation and attack his critics.
Barely a day after a jury in New York ruled that Trump had sexually abused and defamed writer E Jean Carroll, here he was mocking her on prime-time television – and it was excruciating to watch. “She’s a wack job,” he said – to guffaws from a packed audience.
“What kind of a woman meets somebody and brings them up and within minutes, you’re playing hanky-panky in a dressing room,” he continued to an even louder rumbling of laughter and even a howl or two. Read more of Martha Kelner’s analysis here
Donald Trump called the woman he sexually abused a lying "wack job"2:07
Play Video – What next for Trump?
Sky’s US correspondent talks through Trump’s CNN town hall.
Ukraine war ‘over in 24 hours’
Mr Trump was also questioned about the Ukraine war – and made bold claims about his peace-making abilities.
“If I’m president, I will have that war settled in one day, 24 hours,” he said, adding that he would meet with both President Putin and President Zelenskyy.
“They both have weaknesses and they both have strengths and within 24 hours that war will be settled. It’ll be over, it’ll be absolutely over,” said Mr Trump.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting of the Presidential Council for the Local Self-Government Development via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia April 20, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.
He said Putin had made a “mistake” invading Ukraine and that it wouldn’t have happened if he were still in power.
However, he declined to say whether he thinks the Russian leader is a war criminal.
“If you say he’s a war criminal it’s going to be a lot tougher to make a deal to make this thing stopped,” he told the audience in New Hampshire.
“If he’s going to be a war criminal, people are going to grab him and execute him, he’s going to fight a lot harder than he’s fighting under the other circumstance.
“That’s something to be discussed at a later day.”
The International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest earlier this year in a move decried by Moscow.
Capitol riots. Pic: AP
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Trump said he would likely pardon many Capitol rioters if he wins power again. Pic: AP
Mr Trump also refused to say who he wants to win the war, despite being asked three times.
“I don’t think in terms of winning and losing. I think in terms of getting it settled so we stop killing all these people,” he said.
“Russians and Ukrainians, I want them to stop dying,” he added. “And I’ll have that done in 24 hours.”
The interview also touched on the invasion of the US Capitol by his supporters in 2021.
Those shocking scenes in Washington erupted after he made false claims of election fraud – claims he repeated in Wednesday’s programme.
He told host Kaitlan Collins he was likely to pardon many of the rioters if he beats Joe Biden and wins re-election next year.
“I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one because a couple of them probably they got out of control,” Mr Trump said.
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