Trump takes jab at Michelle Obama for ‘loving’ Weinstein despite own ties with mogul

US president calls Weinstein’s conviction a ‘great victory’ for women

Donald Trump reacted to Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assault and third-degree rape conviction by attacking Michelle Obama and other Democrats.

The US president was asked about the former Hollywood mogul during a news conference in India, where he’s traveling for a state visit.

Mr Trump called the conviction a “great victory” for women that “sends a very strong message”.

“He was a person I didn’t like,” he said of Mr Weinstein. “The people that liked him were the Democrats. Michelle Obama loved him. Loved him. Hillary Clinton loved him.”

Mr Trump himself stands accused of sexual misconduct, including a rape allegation, by more than a dozen women when he was a private citizen. He has denied the allegations and has not been charged.

Back in October 2017, when the allegations against Weinstein became public, Mr Trump told reporters he had known Mr Weinstein “for a long time”, adding: “I’m not at all surprised to see it.”

Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump were photographed in 2009 with Mr Weinstein and his wife Georgina Chapman at an after-party in New York City.

Mr Weinstein was once a known Democratic contributor, prompting some politicians to return his donations in October 2017 after the scandal emerged.

In 2013, Mr Weinstein visited the White House for a student film symposium. He was praised on that occasion by Ms Obama as a “wonderful human being, a good friend and just a powerhouse”.

Ms Clinton reacted to Mr Weinstein’s conviction on Tuesday at the Berlin Film Festival, where the documentary series Hillary, based on interviews with Ms Clinton, was being presented.

She acknowledged Mr Weinstein’s past donations, stating: “He contributed to every Democrat’s campaign” and adding: “I don’t know whether that should chill anyone else from contributing to political campaigns, but it certainly should end the kind of behaviour that he was just convicted for.”

“The jury’s verdict really speaks for itself,” Ms Clinton said. “It was time for an accounting.”

In 2017, Barack Obama disavowed Mr Weinstein in a statement, saying: “Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports of Harvey Weinstein. Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture, including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect, so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future.”

The Independent has contacted Ms Obama’s and Ms Clinton’s representatives for comment.

Additional reporting by agencies