Donald Trump sexual misconduct: Ivanka believes father’s denial

FRESH from an important trip overseas, Ivanka Trump wasn’t expecting to be asked about this - and she reacted by scolding the man interviewing her.

FIRST daughter Ivanka Trump has spoken out about the sexual misconduct claims made against her father labelling questions on the topic “inappropriate”.

Speaking to NBC News during her visit to South Korea, Ms Trump was asked a range of questions including whether she agreed with her father’s proposal to provide teachers with firearms in a bid to make students safer.

However, there was one question that she appeared to take exception to.

Ms Trump, who promotes herself as an advocate of women and families within the administration, scolded NBC News’ Peter Alexander when he asked if she believed her father’s denials regarding a series of sexual misconduct claims.

“I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he’s affirmatively stated there’s no truth to it,” she said.

“I believe my father, I know my father.

“I think I have that right as a daughter, to believe my father.”

Ivanka Trump pictured attending the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Picture: Gaillard-Pool/Getty Images

More than a dozen women have come forward with claims of past misconduct by Mr Trump, who infamously boasted in a tape that surfaced during his 2016 campaign that his celebrity allowed him to kiss and grope women with impunity.

The White House has consistently dismissed the allegations, saying the President denied them before he was elected.

However, in a divergence from the White House line, the highest-profile woman in the administration, has said any woman claiming to be the victim of sexual harassment, including the ones implicating Mr Trump, “should be heard”.

Ms Trump’s defence of her father sparked accusations she is “part of the problem” including from one of the President’s accusers, Rachel Crooks.

Ms Trump said being questions surrounding sexual misconduct claims surrounding her father was inappropriate. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Ms Crooks has accused Mr Trump of sexually assaulting her by kissing her in public against her will.

Ms Crooks, who recently announced she was running for state Congress as a Democrat, said over Twitter that Ms Trump’s response wasn’t good enough.

I understand the unfortunate position someone would be in to have to admit their father is a misogynist and a sexual predator, but those who remain complicit in his actions are also part of the problem. #metoo #TimesUp https://t.co/hCMUnuVUn6 https://t.co/ux6FEJ41tE

— Rachel Crooks for Ohio (@RachelforOhio) February 26, 2018

Ms Crooks has spoken of the allegations repeatedly.

Most recently she told the Washington Post she was working as a receptionist for a company on the 24th floor of New York’s Trump Tower in 2006 when the incident allegedly occurred.

Then aged 22, Ms Crooks said she would see Mr Trump regularly as he took the lift up to his residence and plucked up the courage to approach him and introduce herself.

She claims he immediately forced himself on her and began kissing her.

Mr Trump strongly denied the claims over Twitter, arguing no one would do it in a public space with security cameras running.

A woman I don’t know and, to the best of my knowledge, never met, is on the FRONT PAGE of the Fake News Washington Post saying I kissed her (for two minutes yet) in the lobby of Trump Tower 12 years ago. Never happened! Who would do this in a public space with live security......

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 20, 2018

Some on social media sympathised with Ms Trump’s position and said being asked that question would have placed her in an awkward position.

What do people expect Ivanka to say? Yes, I believe my father's accusers?

— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) February 26, 2018

Others questioned whether Chelsea Clinton would get asked a similar question about her father.

You wouldn’t hear this kind of question asked of the Bush or Obama daughters .

— Leslie Doiron Roch (@rochleslie) February 26, 2018

However, several media outlets including CNN’s Jake Tapper defended Alexander’s question arguing she works for the taxpayers and therefore should answer it.

Trying to figure out what part of this is inappropriate. She works for the taxpayers, says she focuses on women’s issues, was at the interview because she went to the Olympics to represent the USA, is an adult, and has spoken publicly about accusations against others. https://t.co/7GqrFRe8oH

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 26, 2018

— with AP

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