We often hear that rape allegations ‘ruin men's lives’, but the news of Donald Trump’s US election win highlights what all survivors of abuse, and women-at-large, know to be true: the majority of people do not seem to care. In fact, you can be found liable for sexual abuse and still become president of the United States of America.
Donald Trump assumed the US presidency, for a second non-consecutive term, after sweeping three key battleground states just hours after the polls closed on Election Day, consigning Kamala Harris to defeat. It’s a historic moment for all the wrong reasons. Personally, the news was no surprise to me – global politics are leaning toward the right, and women’s rights are routinely stripped or stalled. I had no faith in either candidate; this was a ‘lesser of two evils’ situation where, ultimately, no one wins. But women and marginalised genders are losing far more with this result.
In 2023, a New York jury found Donald Trump liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996, awarding her $5 million (£3.8m). Judge Kaplan, who oversaw the proceedings, wrote: ‘The only issue on which the jury did not find in Ms Carroll’s favor was whether she proved that Mr. Trump “raped” her within the narrow, technical meaning of that term in the New York penal law.’
He added, ‘The jury… was instructed that it could find that Mr. Trump “raped” Ms Carroll only if it found that he forcibly penetrated Ms Carroll’s vagina with his penis. It could not find that he “raped” her if it determined that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated Ms Carroll’s private sexual parts with his fingers – which commonly is considered “rape” in other contexts – because the New York penal law definition of rape is limited to penile penetration.’
Since the 1970s, at least 26 women have publicly accused Donald Trump of rape, non-consensual kissing, and groping, looking under women's skirts, and walking in on naked teenage pageant contestants. Trump has denied all allegations.
He has loudly and repeatedly exhibited misogynistic behaviour. In 2018, commenting on the #MeToo movement, he said: ‘It is a very scary time for young men in America, where you can be guilty of something you may not be guilty of… Women are doing great.’ In 2004, he said of his daughter: ‘She does have a very nice figure... if [she] weren't my daughter, perhaps I'd be dating her.’ Infamously, he said of women, ‘Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything,’ in leaked footage from 2005. There are many, many more examples.
Nearly all the men accused of sexual assault or misconduct as part of the #MeToo movement in Hollywood have faced little to no consequences.
Society promotes a narrative that rape allegations and false rape accusations ruin men’s lives, casting the perpetrator as a victim in public consciousness. This is untrue for many reasons. Just look at the #MeToo movement – nearly all the men accused of sexual assault or misconduct in Hollywood have faced little to no consequences. Their careers have bounced back; they have been given redemption arcs. Just look at Johnny Depp (who a jury determined assaulted ex-wife Amber Heard), Louis C.K. (who admitted that sexual misconduct allegations made against him by five women were true) or Shia LaBoeuf (who admitted to not disclosing having a sexually transmitted disease to women he was dating and cheating on).
Research for the Home Office suggests that only 4% of sexual violence cases reported to the UK police are found or suspected to be false. Studies in Europe and the US indicate rates between 2% and 6%. Trump was not falsely accused but found liable in a civil case. This is an anomaly – of every 1,000 sexual assaults, 975 perpetrators walk completely free in the US.
Society is always waiting with bated breath to forgive abusers because it serves patriarchy to continue normalising rape and rape culture. It keeps women controlled. Fear is, after all, one of the most powerful tools of oppression.
Donald Trump is a stark reminder of this and the reality that, ultimately, this world does not care about the safety, bodily autonomy, or freedom of women. So much so, that it will re-elect a symbol of our oppression into office for a second time. The worst bit? We’re not even shocked.