Trump defends mocking sexual assault victim Christine Blasey Ford: 'It doesn't matter. We won'

President defends mocking woman who accused his Supreme Court nominee of attempted sexual assault

Donald Trump has brushed off his mocking of Christine Blasey Ford, saying that had he not attacked her in a speech "we would not have won".

In an interview on US TV show 60 Minutes, the president said without his jeering remarks about Ms Ford's allegations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh, his Supreme Court nominee would not have been approved.

At the now infamous rally in Mississippi – which took place after Ms Ford's testimony before the Senate and before Mr Kavanaugh was confirmed to the court – the president mockingly imitated Ms Ford.

"How did you get home? 'I don't remember.' How did you get there? 'I don't remember.' Where is the place? 'I don't remember.' How many years ago was it? 'I don't know. I don't know. I don't know."'

Mimicking her, he concluded: "But I had one beer – that's the only thing I remember."

In his Sunday evening interview, Mr Trump insisted that he had treated Ms Ford with respect.

"I was just saying she didn’t seem to know anything and she tried to destroy the life of a man who has been extraordinary," he said.

"Had I not made that speech, we would not have won."

The veteran US journalist Lesley Stahl, who was conducting the interview, pressed Mr Trump by asking why had "made fun" of Ms Ford.

"I didn’t really make fun," he replied. "What I said is the person we were talking about didn’t know the year, the time, the place..."

Contrary to Mr Trump's ridicule, Ms Ford did recount many of the details he claimed she had forgotten during her testimony before the Senate's Judiciary Committee last month.

During her evidence, Ms Ford said that the part of the alleged assault which had haunted her for decades was the laughter of Mr Kavanaugh and the other men she says pinned her to a bed during a house party and tried to remove her clothes. Mr Kavanaugh has denied the allegations.

Ms Stahl asked Mr Trump if it was right of him to provoke even more laughter and derision from the crowd at his Mississippi rally towards Ms Ford.

But the president brushed off her question, insisting his supporters could do what they wanted.

"The way now Justice Kavanaugh was treated has become a big factor in the midterms... have you seen what’s gone on with the polls? I think she was treated with great respect.

"I'm not going to get into it because we won. It doesn’t matter, we won.”

Following Ms Ford's emotional testimony to the Senate about the alleged sexual assault, the FBI re-opened their background investigation into Mr Kavanaugh.

But the probe was shut down less than a week later and the judge was quickly confirmed by a vote of the whole Senate to a lifetime position on the Supreme Court.

When Ms Ford first came forward Mr Trump was polite, describing her as a "very credible witness".

But as the nomination of Mr Kavanaugh became mired in partisan politics, he began to attack her claims more forcefully, culminating in his Mississippi rally.

Speaking before Mr Kavanaugh was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice last week, Mr Trump told reporters the multiple claims against him were "a hoax", fabricated by the Democrats and other "people who are evil".