Donald Trump’s Controversial Rant on Big Businesses After Being Found Liable for SA

Donald Trump has stirred controversy with his explicit choice of words to characterize major corporations, particularly in light of his recent liability verdict for sexual assault.

Trigger Warning: This article includes mentions of sexual assault and rape.

In a recent address to the Detroit Economic Club, Trump sought to improve his standing in Michigan—a crucial swing state for the upcoming Presidential Election. Given his combative rhetoric and Joe Biden’s victory in 2020, winning over Michigan presents a significant challenge for Trump. To bolster his image as a champion of Detroit, he delivered an almost two-hour-long speech that meandered through a variety of topics, including Harris, Elon Musk, international trade, and voter identification. However, the most shocking moment came when he used the term “rape” to refer to large foreign corporations.

Trump’s Disturbing Rant on Big Businesses

During his lengthy oration, Trump articulated his strategy to confront “dominant companies” located abroad. He argued that American naivety had allowed these international entities to gain influence, stating, “We allowed them to come in and raid and rape our country.” His use of such vehement language took the audience aback, a response that seemingly delighted Trump, who smugly remarked on his choice of words, declaring, “‘Oh, he used the word ‘rape.’ That’s right. I used the word ‘rape.’ They raped our country.”

Trump: “We allowed them to come in and raid and rape our country. ‘Oh, he used the word rape.’ That’s right, I used the word rape. They RAPED our country.”pic.twitter.com/u6k4hShz0l

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2024

Those who heard his remarks interpreted them as part of his offensive rhetoric against immigrants, yet the statement actually targeted international corporations. He continued to propose “incentives” for businesses willing to establish operations in the U.S. Still, the aggressive terminology raised eyebrows, particularly given the context of Trump’s own legal troubles concerning sexual misconduct.

Last year, a jury found Trump liable for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll back in 1996. Carroll had accused him of rape in her memoir published in 2019, prompting Trump to initiate a defamation campaign against her. Ultimately, the jury sided with Carroll, awarding her $5 million for damages after ruling that Trump had both sexually abused and defamed her. Although Trump’s legal team tried to highlight that the jury only deemed him liable for sexual abuse, a subsequent judge clarified that the verdict indeed encompassed “rape” as commonly understood, outside the specifics of New York law.

Trump’s history includes accusations of sexual misconduct from numerous women; 26 women have publicly stated their allegations against him. His ex-wife, Ivana Trump, also claimed rape during her divorce proceedings. Given this background, his casual use of the term “rape”is not only inconsiderate but also hypocritical. Moreover, his evident pride in a term so steeped in his personal controversies feels exceedingly unsettling.

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