Trump’s abuse response marks #MeToo disconnect

CNN — President Donald Trump spent the weekend putting himself on the wrong side of a potential turning point in history, formed by the sudden, sharp change in how society responds to women’s allegations of abuse. Several White House officials have expressed confusion over the President’s conflicting remarks, questioning how Trump can go from reportedly calling Porter “a sick puppy” in private to being defensive of him and dismissive of the allegations in public. But apart from cutting against most common definitions of decency, Trump’s stand represents a dangerous political strategy, one that White House aides might have recognized in their comments to Axios. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that Kelly learned the full extent of the claims Tuesday and “by Wednesday, Rob Porter was out.” Early Sunday however, Axios reported that Porter told associates that White House officials encouraged him to “stay and fight” rather than resign following the original report of the abuse allegations in the Daily Mail. Video Ad Feedback Cooper: Trump is forgiving to alleged abusers 05:54 - Source: CNN Amid an immediate backlash, Kelly hurriedly issued another statement saying that there was “no place for domestic violence in our society” though standing by his prior assessment of Porter’s character.