Donald Trump adviser Betsy McCaughey says he is victim of ‘man shaming’ amid sexual assault allegations

Her interview highlights a Trump team strategy that the accusations against him are all false and designed to bring him down

Rachael Revesz
New York
Thursday 27 October 2016 18:30 BST
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Mr Trump's adviser claims he is the victim, not the women who accused him
Mr Trump's adviser claims he is the victim, not the women who accused him (AP)

Donald Trump’s top adviser said that the presidential nominee was a "victim of man shaming" due to the slew of sexual assault allegations against him.

Betsy McCaughey, the former lieutenant governor of New York, was asked to share her views on former house speaker Newt Gingrich accusing Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly of being "fascinated with sex" because Ms Kelly called Mr Trump a "sexual predator".

"I do believe that the polls show that Americans are not buying this roll out of accusers, and this bigger theme of man-shaming, and they want to get to the real issues," she said, pointing to a Fox News poll which gives Mr Trump a lead over Hillary Clinton among women and men.

"What I’m saying is Americans are watching this drumbeat about these sexual accusations and they’re saying, 'I don’t want to hear this - I want to hear about the economy, I want to hear about terrorism'," she argued.

Ms McCaughey, Mr Trump's economic adviser, previously came under fire for citing Beyonce lyrics in an attempt to highlight the "hypocrisy" of Ms Clinton supporting an artist who uses words like "b***h".

Her comments come as Mr Trump denies all allegations from more than 13 women, including former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos and adult film actress Jessica Drake.

The allegations emerged after a video from 2005 was leaked by the Washington Post, in which Mr Trump was seen to be bragging to former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush about how he could do anything he wanted to women as a "star", including grabbing their genitals.

Mr Bush was suspended in light of the tape, while Mr Trump’s support has not been drastically eroded in the polls.

He still struggles with women voters, however. An ABC News poll found Ms Clinton ahead of Trump by 20 points among women.

He said the women accusing him were "sick", were physically unattractive and were making up stories for fame and in support of Hillary Clinton.

He and his wife, Melania Trump, agreed that Mr Trump should sue all of these women after the election is over.

Mr Gingrich, a Trump ally, also jumped to his side on Fox News and said Megyn Kelly could not accuse Mr Trump without evidence, and that she was "fascinated with sex".

The next day at the iconic Gettysburg address Mr Trump thanked Mr Gingrich for an "incredible interview".

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