Donald Trump has a pretty negative reputation when it comes to women — one that, admittedly, is well-deserved. His most famous remark was when he boasted about being able to grab women “by the p****” because he was wealthy and famous, but he’s also been accused of sexual assault and harassment multiple times. So when he complimented a female reporter in the Oval Office, liberals immediately thought the worst of him.
Trump was in the middle of a phone call with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar when he noticed Caitríona Perry, the U.S. Bureau Chief for Ireland’s RTÉ News. He called Perry over, saying, “Go ahead, come here, where are you from? We have all of this beautiful Irish press, where are you from?”
Perry introduced herself and Trump said to Prime Minister Varadkar, “Caitríona Perry. She has a nice smile on her face, so I bet she treats you well.” The exchange was immediately criticized by many people, who called it sexist. Perry herself described it as “bizarre.”
Video of the bizarre moment when President @realDonaldTrump called me over during his call with Taoiseach @campaignforLeo Varadkar. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/TMl2SFQaji
— Caitriona Perry (@CaitrionaPerry) June 27, 2017
Many liberals immediately slammed Trump for the remark:
Needless to say, male reporters are not told that they have a "nice smile" https://t.co/H8pH5CKZd7
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) June 28, 2017
In case anyone is wondering: no, the Trump/Caitriona Perry thing is not a novelty episode, it's sexist and creepy. https://t.co/obdssqf5hW
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) June 28, 2017
This – what – good grief. No, Trump the casual creepy sexist control freak is not going to change https://t.co/LF5LV8fqAy
— Adam Banks (@adambanksdotcom) June 28, 2017
But oddly, Trump had a defender from an unexpected source: CNN.
CNN's Kayleigh McEnany defends Trump's sexist comments to Irish reporter Caitriona Perry: https://t.co/vBJ7QnFVtB
— Media Matters (@mmfa) June 28, 2017
Others thought the entire “controversy” was blown out of proportion.
Not a Trump guy by any means, but this is ridiculous. Can't tell someone they have a nice smile without it being sexist?! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/gTFvPmuwny
— ACB (@AustinCBoyd) June 28, 2017
Breaking News: Trump says about reporter standing in front of him: "She has a nice smile on her face." Media: "See! He's sexist!" ???? #Smile
— Art Tavana (@arttavana) June 28, 2017
Apparently Trump saying that a reporter has a "nice smile" is "totally inappropriate" and …wait for it… "SEXIST" *GASP*
— Political Tone (@political_tone) June 28, 2017
Monster. How DARE he. Impeach. https://t.co/3KcD4tRijd
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) June 28, 2017
Do you think Trump’s comment to Perry was sexist?