I find some of these shoot-the-messenger comments disturbing. Did any of you watch the interview?
I hadn’t planned on watching it but after reading a report on it in the ‘other’ paper of record, there it was, embedded at the bottom of the page. Thought, let me see who Karen McDougal is.
Was drawn in to watching the whole thing. Karen McDougal is believable. She’s articulate and intelligent. Who are any of us to judge her actions in entering into the relationship with ‘David Denison’? Who wouldn’t among NYT readers look down on a ‘Playboy model’ in the first place?
Her story is important on many levels. Not least of which is adding another brick in the wall that should seal off the monster, DD, from doing any more damage to our country.
DD, DJT, 666, whatever the appellation - our president is a liar. And this cannot stand.
Not.My.President
PS - I stand with Karen. I’m not judging you, woman.
23
We do have an odd couple in the White House. A man who grabs any woman he can get and another who won't go to dinner with a woman without his wife in tow.
17
Karen serviced Trump so of course he wanted to pay her. Did I miss something here?
12
Why does anyone care about this "story"? Why does the Paper of Record have it on the front of their website? I take a back seat to no one in opposing Trumpism, but I could not care less who he has slept with, whether he paid anyone (for sex, silence, or both) or whether he was cheating on his latest trophy wife at the time. Do. Not. Care. Who is even surprised? And I'm very uncomfortable with turning people like Stormy Daniels and this McDougal woman into heroes just because they are hurting a politician we don't like. Stormy was represented by counsel and knowingly signed an agreement after being handsomely paid to do what any decent person would do for free: not kiss and tell. And now this McDougal woman gets a CNN interview and the front of the NYTimes website with the "news" that her former lover, Trump, told her he loved her and offered her money? She's succeeding in making me feel bad -- for him! There are much better reasons to not like Trump than his sex life with porn stars and former Playboy Playmates. The Times and CNN should leave it to People Magazine to cover this nonsense.
15
It's sounding like Ms. McDougal and Stormy Daniels are now trying to be environmentalists.....they are attempting to recycle their trashy reputations.
7
I was inclined to be sympathetic until (1) she said they were in love, (2) she went past Melania’s room and still conducted the affair, and (3) she voted for the jerk. This stinks as opportunism, not honesty and morality. I can’t summon up any sympathy for this one. Stormy is so much more believable and sympathetic and honest in so many ways. This one leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.
7
Karen McDougal's level of disgust must have been quite shallow. She says she was "mortified" by the multitude of sexual abuse allegations against her illicit lover, Donald J. Trump. She is, and was aware that he had meant sexcapdes while having sex with her, and maybe Melania Trump. That a lot of passing around of females, and potentail STDs.
It is a mystery that Karen McDougal thought her illicit liar of a lover was fit for the office of the Presidency. It is an greater mystery that she was foolish enough to vote for a serial sex abuser who used her a year's worth of unprotected sex. He has less than zero respect for her.
Yet, she adds to her lack of self-respect by voting for her liar of an illicit lover.
SAD
11
She fell in love with him?? Really??
That just set the #MeToo movement back a whole decade.
10
I sincerely feel that Karen wanted/thought she had a shot at being Wife #4. I dont know, if i got cash offer after sleeping with somebody, i would stop seeing
them. It is very denigrating and blow to your ego.
I think she is trying to cash-in while it is hot.
As for Trump, well we know he has no class. He is extremely lucky to have been born to rich parents.
9
It seems our evangelical friends have chosen the perfect avatar to put a stake into the heart of the institution of marriage.
He has married three times. He's had sex with porn stars and Playboy bunnies, even as his wife was giving birth. He brags about fondling (although 'fondling' sounds less brutal than 'grabbing') genitals of women he doesn't know. He speaks lustfully of his own daughter.
Is this what they mean by 'traditional American values'? What an excellent example for our kids.
11
"I'm not that kind of girl". "I thought we were in love".
Maybe she's telling the truth about encounters with Trump, maybe not. But one thing is clear: she is an insufferable rube.
8
I always laugh when hard core GOP types rail on Barack Obama. The guy graduated from Harvard University and Harvard Law School. He was a community organizer, and then US Senator. He married his wife, had two children and apparently not a single whiff of anything extramarital in his personal life. He sure was a horrible executive. Can we get him back and end this poor excuse for a reality show?
22
I have to say, that no matter how disgusting Trump's hypocrisy is, I find these two women (not the ones that have been harassed) not much better. First they sleep with him while he is married. Then they get paid for silence, not much, but "Hey! let's take it, it is our chance, if he does not get elected, forget!" Then he is elected and the egg of their affairs is golden again, time to exploit it some more, maybe not for money now, but notoriety! Not a pretty picture.
7
I worked closely with adult inmates for many years, all with murder charges. I would be with them in their unit day rooms where they had the common television on every day. On one of the talk shows, a woman complained that the man who used and then jilted her cried, "he said he loved me", one inmate said out loud, "we got to tell you we love you honey." Trump loves Trump. Trump is not smart. Instead, he is sly and conniving. Also, isn't anyone as creeped out as I am over Trump's obsession with being with women who remind him of his daughter? What a sick, twisted man we have in the presidency.
13
In case you missed the CNN Interview you can watch CNN tonight at 6pm, and again at 7pm, and 8,9,10pm...
And all day tomorrow, Sunday, and all next week.
6
And the Religious Right continues to support Trump because his escapades took place before he occupied the White House.
Excuse me, but a big huh? If you're a sleazeball it doesn't matter what your occupation is. A sleazeball is a sleazeball.
No more passes.
5
So this isn’t much different than Clinton and Monica except it happened ten years before Trump took office. Wait, Clinton worse cause he was in office and Monica was way younger than this Playboy playmate. Didn’t vote for Trump and don’t like him but hypocrisy here with trump haters.
3
My dear Ms. McDougal: Donald Trump loves no one but himself.
5
And why exactly is it that many Americans think these women are lying? Clinton was impeached for lying about his extra-marital affair under oath. Trump carries on extra-marital affairs and lies about everything and yet his Republican supporters and lap-dogs in Congress make excuses. Their hypocrisy is laid bare and they will reap what they sow come November.
5
Rev Franklin Graham says God selected Trump to lead U.S. from the wilderness. Jesus has been replaced?
5
Trump and B. Clinton, two birds of a feather, except that the non “public servant” Trump had greater access to his very specific tastes. (Assuming BC had any taste.) Many NYTimes readers seem puzzled as to why many, me included, have abandoned politics as a solution to anything. Fortunately, I live in Montana which is pretty much off the grid.
2
If the purpose of McDougal coming forward with her story was to put Stormy's story on page 2 she has succeeded, I guess she is still in love with Trump as she is sacrificing her character.
2
At some level, Donald is still enjoying this. He's too vain not to. He may not want the legal or the marital hassles, but he loves hearing Ms. McDougal tell how charming and brilliant he was and how much she loved him. The fact that she voted for him is icing on the cake. Too much of his self-image was based on being seen as a big ladies man, and that hasn't magically disappeared.
10
I am sorry but this is really a non-story (albeit a story as common as marriage; affairs happen all the time), and I am not sure why Ms. McDougal feels compelled to speak out (they were both consenting adults) after so many years of silence. And, speaking as a superficial male, I fully understand why Mr. Trump was smitten . . .
6
Trump is doing to the USA what he did to Karen and Stormy and god knows who else.
And he's confident he's going to get away with it.
6
I think I speak for most Women, with this statement : There is not enough Money, or Tequila in the entire World. Just saying.
124
Word.
4
All I can say is, God help poor Barron. There is no doubt in my mind that he either saw or will see every bit of that interview.
Maybe it will help him to be realistic about his father. Maybe he will react with a healthy, visceral disgust. Maybe he will demand a few answers of his Mom about why she stays, and his dad about why he cheats.
The night of the campaign “victory” he looked like he was on the verge of bursting into tears. Maybe he had a sense of the coming tidal wave of revelations.
19
She seems absolutely credible. Unlike the other party.
21
I come away from reading reports like this thinking that the Lord was wrong to warn Noah and should have just been done with humanity in the flood. And I can hardly imagine what McDougal's standards for judging intellectual prowess are if she considered Trump "brilliant".
24
Trump is a sleaze no doubt, and should be impeached for many reasons. But in terms of basic character, ethics and good judgment, how are they any better.
5
He is getting away with eggregious behavior because of the protective umbrella afforded by the presidency and the undeserved respect it gives this incumbent. Obviously, it can't shield him for ever. That's what makes this otherwise unbearable situation not entirely hopeless.
7
I watched CNN last night, I listened to Ms. McDougal, as she appears to be sincere, I do not have sympathy for her. But with the very married Donald, the responsibility is his, he is the married partner who cheats. However, if Melanie chooses to live her life with a adultery, that is her private business.
Now as far as money exchanges - who bought McDougal's silence, what was the motivation is our concern. Trump continues to deny sexual assault on several women, plus has denied the affairs with both Ms. McDougal and Ms. Clifford. Now that the affairs are in the 24/7 news cycles, Trump has made impulsive and potentially dangerous policy decisions, firing and replacing people to distract, "duck and cover." Trump is a coward, his behavior continues to be subversive to American values. This isn't making " America Great Again", there is no "Swamp" draining, we are sinking in the muck.
Trump has sworn to honor and protect the Constitution - so far he has not been any more successful at this, than he is honoring his wedding vows.
17
Trump figures to pay for sexual encounters outside marriage, wanted or not. He just has his people settle accounts and clean up the mess for him. Although the final source of the money remains to be discovered, there's a good chance someone is writing it off as a business expense. I don't know if that's legal or not, but someone should definitely check it out.
Also, Trump's enablers are probably among the same people he phones now for advice. And they're probably on the same ethical plane, which is not remotely reassuring.
9
"She Stoops To Conquer" ? Has it occurred to anyone that these women are trotting out DJT's infidelities after the election for a reason-to soften the blow when the Putin information is released, as it will be soon. In spy talk it is called disinformation, only with Trump it is just the same old information. I don't think highly of him, McDougal, Daniels or his wife. Of course a second reason is money. The women, the man, the wife: all about money and greed. How did we stoop so low.
4
Think Berlusconi, but without the self-awareness, the business aptitude, and with a nuclear arsenal.
26
Several things seem weird here. First, McDougal's hurt feelings after Trump tried to pay her because she thought they'd shared something special - after having met once at the Playboy mansion. Second, that she perceived him as thoughtful, charming . . .. Third, after the Access Hollywood tape and Trump's campaign performances refuted all of those qualities, she still voted for him. Fourth, why is telling her story now, so vital - because she didn't get her health expert gig and is pissed? Finally, if McDougal really wants to atone to Melania (not that I care), wouldn't this extraordinarily public interview make things worse?
17
You speak my thoughts. I’m for Stormy, not this one.
1
Both McDougal and Stormy Daniels have said Trump told them they reminded him of his daughter. Let's think about this a minute. No, let's not.
83
There are all sorts of benign ways to interpret such a statement--if it was in fact made. Imputing incestuous thoughts to another based on ancient hearsay that is generally in the financial interest of each woman (i.e. to gin up interest in her story) is the easy way out. Very many commenters want the easy way out.
Ummm...I don't know many fathers who imply they'd date their own daughter if she were not their daughter.
2
How about John Kennedy? Let's think about THAT for a minute.
I watched the entire interview. My impression was that Ms McDonald was quite credible when she discussed her various liaisons with Trump. Her description of financial and business discussions, however, did not seem entirely truthful. She has no real proof of what she alleges, even though Trump’s denials seem absurd. I’ll be watching 60 Minutes to see if the porn star has more to say and more to demonstrate.
7
Yet again, all I can think is how the Republicans would be screaming for Obama's head on a pike if he had done any one of a number of immoral and illegal things Trump has done. And the evangelicals are showing that they don't care about morality, sex with minor girls, or family values; all they care about is...huh, I don't actually know anymore.
86
They care about ending abortion and, in the process, rolling back women’s access to healthcare and when I say women, I mean poor and middle-class women. Wealthy women are still going to be able to obtain whatever health services they require, including abortions. Evangelicals can well afford to turn a blind eye to Trump’s despicable behavior as long as it even appears to them like he might work with the Republicans on restricting access to abortion and shutting down Planned Parenthoods.
25
Guns and abortions. That's what they care about. As long as you are opposed to abortion and gun regulation, you'll have the hearts and minds of the evangelicals. You know, those things are in the bible: thou shalt not take my guns or have abortions.
5
abortion..yep that is one thing but you forgot the misogyny, the racism, the climate change denying, the environmental disaster of ending anything obama, and of course, self dealing...presidency for the enrichment of the rump family is what we have...all predictable during the campaign and all those people chose it.
1
Here is the perennial story of a married narcissist cheating on his wife and saying 'I love you' - rather than 'I lust for you' - to appease a willing and naive young mistress. She feels guilty ... If a husband can have an affair and betray the woman he married; then he is capable of telling multiple lies, both to the wife and mistress – so far nothing new about that as millions of men do it… especially easy when the wealthy man doesn't have to get up in the morning to earn an honest living.
We all know some US presidents did the same but contrary to Donald Trump those men were intelligent, educated and competent in their jobs. Last but not least, they weren’t so deeply compromised to betray the constitution of their own country because they were indebted to foreign country money lenders.
Fortunately McDougal got a wakeup call a decade later realizing she had been had by two attorneys (Davidson and Cohen), a tabloid rag network (AMI) and a depraved three times married man (Donald Trump) who is not even sorry hurting people. I don’t feel sorry for Melania she went out with Trump when he was married to Marla. It reflects the slumbering state of our humanity.
Donald Trump is not only morally corrupt but also uneducated, heartless and a liar who most likely became president fraudulently. Hopefully, in November mid-terms, American people would vote accordingly and intelligently to save their fragile democracy.
59
The affairs of those other Presidents were not widely known or reported on in real time. In most cases, those things didn't even come to light until after they were dead. Trump is an exception because much was known about his affairs before he even ran for office. The party of family values made him their leader anyway.
3
He offered money because he couldn't possibly believe that a young, gorgeous woman would have real feelings or desire for him. The fact that she was hurt is funny in that she is only dating him because he has money. Not like he wasn't married with a pregnant wife--oh the empathy at work!
Also, I want to add, WHO CARES, and in particular, who cares at all with Trump---there are lots of women out there he did this with; I don't care; money buys sex/power and buys sex with some beautiful women.
Trump just retained as NSA Bolton who "never met a problem I didn't want to Nuke via first strike." Alas this is getting more play i bet. We are sick puppies.
23
Yes, the holier than thou Karen refused payment for sex. Instead she (implicitly) told Donald- "Let me run a tab, and I'll let you know when it hits $150,000."
28
'She said they had their first date that June, on Mr. Trump’s birthday, at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Mr. Trump invited her for dinner, she said, so she was surprised when they entered the grounds from a rear entrance and went directly to a private bungalow. “We’re talking about his birthday, and then as the night ended, we were intimate,” she said.'
'Date'? Enough with the weasel words. Trump committed adultery that night. And, inconveniently for this particular male adulterer, Trump's so p-called 'dalliance' also happened to be a crime under the the criminal law of the State of New York:
255.17 Adultery.
A person is guilty of adultery when he engages in sexual intercourse with another person at a time when he has a living spouse, or the other person has a living spouse. Adultery is a class B misdemeanor.
13
OK Evangelicals, is this another Mulligan for Trump?
31
Karen McDougal is clearly the victim of some quite severe abuse. She is describing her 'relationship' as if she were still stuck in a different reality. She doesn't even appear to understand the extent of what really happened to her. In today's human rights driven world, those who really know how to abuse obviously won't resort to beatings and other crude measures. They'll do it the elegant, smart way. What's more abusive than leading a romantic naive past your "intelligent" wife's bedroom who likes to read and speaks many foreign languages (for which Melania doesn't need Donald to be "kind"or "charming"), while love-struck Karen will end up on the "Old Model" path, pushed around, dragged along and defrauded by the likes of AMI ? There should be a separate law protecting women in such circumstances and holding perpetrators accountable.
8
Karen McDougal and John Bolton the space on the Times' front page. In the future, Ms. McDougal will be the answer to a trivia question while Mr. Bolton will be remembered as the architect of our war with Iran.
Ms. McDougal is another shiny object to distract us from the frighteningly dangerous reality of the Trump administration.
20
I suppose if you are the "Celebrity President" you should expect to be treated as a celebrity--a person who is famous...because you are famous.
I also suppose the Times is forced to behave as a Gossip Rag in the Age of Celebrity, but I am sorry this story rates front page status.
I refer to our current time as the Age of Madonna. Dennis Rodman stated that Madonna taught him, "It doesn't matter what people say about you, as long as they talk about you." Don't know if the Donald dated her, but he clearly got the memo.
What I wonder is how many of the Americans that voted for Donald, did not get the memo, actually believed the man wanted to be President, not just burnish his brand at the expense of his wife, the public, and America's reputation beyond our borders.
Or, maybe there is no longer any difference between celebrity and fame, truth and fiction, or taking responsibility and just taking credit.
I know Melania did not sign up for this. Neither did I. Ms McDougal? Never saw it coming. That doesn't mean people should hate on her or disregard her. This is a great time to remain considerate, mindful, and polite.
4
Somehow, I don't think "tonight's the night" for the fat Trumpster in Mar A Lago with Melania.
36
After watching just a few minutes of this interview, I thought, "Wow, Trump and McDougal really deserve each other."
23
As salacious and disappointing as it might be. just as I thought when I learned about President Clinton's dalliances, what happens between two consenting adults, as long as the law wasn't broken, really isn't any of my business.
1
As long as illegal campaign contributions weren't made to purchase silence in 2016.
1
It is your business when a sitting president of the united states calls you a liar. that is libel and it is illegal.
2
I'm sure he loved her even more when she wouldn't take cash for sex.
20
What price can you put on love? I'm sure Trump sincerely 'loved' this woman, and Stormy, and Melania, all at the same time. And no doubt he loved all the others yet to be named.
He's so full of... well something, maybe love. Or more likely he's just a believable con man with a fat checkbook and lawyers willing to clean up the mess.
It's too bad his limited private sector skills of bluster, deception and illegality, while natural on campaign, don't translate well into the Oval Office. But those are the only tools he's got. So expect him to flounder until his next campaign when he can again count on the vote of people who seem to love him, even though he doesn't truly love them back.
5
Why all this concern about Melania? She and Trump were having an affair while he was married to second wife Marla Maples.
37
So what. The nation has been through this drama before will Bill Clinton. Let's move on to more serious things. Thank you.
4
What a double standard we have. If Obama had done this, the conservative media (and the Russian bots) would have been all over it, calling for him to be run out of office on a rail. Trump is the lowest common denominator of current American politics, obviously.
20
According to the interview, Trump was obviously not using condoms during the intercourses. Aside from mental health, now even his personal hygiene is put in question.
6
Trump pays? unlikely
The philandering, oh yeah!. I bet that is true.
1
Ms. McDougal said Mr. Trump had compared her, favorably, to his daughter. “He said I was beautiful like her..."
Positively sick
17
Not sick at all. What father does not consider his daughter beautiful? Please: it's not like he was comparing breast sizes.
In love with him???! That's one of the most hideous revelations yet.
24
Another apparently quite naive woman who, despite her guilt, eventually agreed to be hushed up for $150,000 at the time of the 2016 election, but who at first said when offered money for sex, "I actually did not take that." After the Access Hollywood tape, one can only wonder if both Stormy Daniels and Ms. McDougal had the courage to tell the truth to the public rather than take the money, how the election would have turned out. All we are left with is a story of a serial philanderer that has surfaced after the damage to the nation has been done.
6
A "big" interview with a woman who wants to come " clean".
Her tale of woe and new found wisdom was a neatly packaged , embellished half truth.
I cut the volume when she pulled Melania into her emotional "apology".
" Say Cheese"!!
Her ear to ear smile was the icing on the cake.
Sorry Anderson Cooper, you are no Barbara Walters.
15 minutes of this drivil was worse than catching my cat wretching to cough up a hairball.
Let's stick to the important stuff,
shall we?
6
This interview is quite revealing. When Trump wants sex he first tries to buy it, then get if for free, and if that fails, he just takes it.
6
Read the piece more carefully. He tried to pay her after they first had sex, which makes the incident exponentially more creepy.
4
Our philanderer in chief is clearly trying to extinguish the fire he ignited in the US.
Thus, there is no doubt whatsoever in my mind, that his russian philandering was one too many and that the russian have compromising materials on him.
8
She describes him as "brilliant" and "charming".
And then I immediately stop reading and taking her seriously.
I mean, are there that many brain-dead-yet-beautiful women in this world that so many of them would have a consensual, extra-marital affair with the worst person on the planet and actually fall in love with this fool? For real? This is a smoke screen. It's not real. No one should be paying attention to this - the real story is elsewhere hiding in plain sight.
22
Just a couple of days ago we got the story about the Vice President’s bunny and the book he wrote about her and now this. I guess it’s good that Pence and Trump both love bunnies.
13
My favorite part of the interview was when Karen McDougal said she was shocked to discover, quite recently, that Trump was carrying on with Stormy Daniels while he was in the middle of his affair with her. I mean, if you can't trust a philandering married man, who can you trust?
44
At least he pays some of his bills.
12
She says she cried when he tried to pay her after the first time they were together but also says when she heard the Access Hollywood tape it was not in line with the man she knew... OK then.
8
Let's see, what was it exactly Trump said on the campaign stump about Hillary's reactions to her husband's sexual affairs?
Oh yeah, I remember.
And now America is supposed to treat Melania tenderly and sympathetically?
Listen, Melania is no dummy, she knew it all then and she hasn't forgotten. But Melania continues to make a good living by enabling, eh?
18
He tried to pay her?This fact makes me think it could not have n been trump. He does not pay.
5
In many ways, Melania's story is that of most immigrants, who are forced to either 'deal with injustice' and/or 'keep their mouth shut' in the face of injustices. I am sure for years to she kept her mouth shut and dealt with it because Donald and/or his connections were her ticket to this country. Even immigrants with high calibre, intelligence and with legitimate claim to an EB1 immigrant visa have to often make compromises like this with their employers. Melania's claim to EB1 is highly dubious and she might even have done some illegal things like working for a wage while not on a work visa.
7
Oh, the illegal working while on a tourist visa can already be documented. She did it.
1
It's obvious what Trump wanted from her, what's more a mystery to me is what she wanted from him to keep going back for 10 months. Since we all know women are blameless and without guile, it must have been Russians who forced her to. There can be no other explanation.
4
I seriously doubt they fell in love. The only person Trump is capable of loving is himself.
7
Where do all these women end up? In the trumpster.
6
In this era of “fake news” and social media, we should appreciate first person accounts, why Anderson Cooper wanted to interview McDougal and why McDougal wanted to control her story. Cooper interviewed well – letting McDougal tell her story, asking difficult questions, and showing the human toll of Trump ‘s actions in his personal life.
Let us not vilify McDougal for her decisions. McDougal spoke with candor. She has the power of hindsight to see she started a relationship when she was not healthy and exited it when she was in a better frame of mind.
We can judge her for her poor decisions and her poor understanding of manipulative human behavior but we should acknowledge that she is human in her desire to be loved – and she (mistakenly) thought she was.
Let’s not tear down this woman and focus on what this interview says about Trump.
10
Trump and Melania undoubtedly have a prenup.
Melania should sue Trump for breaking the contract and divorce the oaf.
Though Trump might have included a clause that he could have as many affairs as he wanted, and his affairs would not constitute grounds for a divorce.
6
I was curious if she had affairs with other married men in the last decade. Not surprising, Mr. Cooper did not ask that question.
In any event, not sure if anything illegal occurred.
2
I watched the interview right up to the end of the recording when the Anderson Cooper's program ended. I'm more than a little ashamed that this is how I spent a half hour of my life.
5
The fact that the "most qualified woman in American politics" lost to the likes of Trump says everything you need to know about how bad a candidate and a campaign can be. Russia aside, had Hillary not made the dumbest mistake of her professional life - a State server in her home - she might be president today.
What can anyone say about Karen McDougal's interview on CNN? What was the point? Much like lawyer Mark Geragos, I'm completely baffled.
At least Trump has better taste in sexpots than Bill Clinton. Several of these attractive women seem to have brains.
many commenters talk about these women "bravely coming forward". bravely coming forward? do not for 1 second tell me these women who had "affairs" with trump are "victims". they went in with eyes wide open and knew exactly what they were doing. or are you trying to tell me they actually fell in love with him for his good looks and charming personality? they saw a man of wealth and power who could provide money, gifts or career advancement. then they took a cash deal to keep it quiet. now they see the opportunity for more money and fame so they want to reneg on the deal, tell their story and get a book, movie or mini-series deal out of it. gold diggers, plain and simple.
7
Story taken from an old-timey bodice ripper. From the "little stab in your heart" to "I've never seen that side of him." It is to weep. True love turns out not to be true and Nero fiddles while Rome burns; and the Fundys and the corporate masters support him and laugh all the way to the bank. Once we reach that war time economy his reputation will blossom yet more, and we'll all be too distracted to remember Karen, Stormy, Ivanka, or Melania. We'll be too busy watching bodybags on CNN.
3
These several days are shaping up to be known as the week that "put to bed" any doubts over whether Don the Marital Con was a serial adulterer, with no doubt more revelations to come.
3
Imagine the lack of judgement and taste in sleeping with Donald Trump, and then actually admitting it.
11
She wouldn’t take pocket money from Trump... but took $150K from the National Enquirer to go public about her affair with a married man? Wow, such wonderfully flexible ethics!
67
And if she were not good-looking?
2
I'm guessing it was $10K vs $150K, lol.
You're questioning someone's ethics, and you don't mention Trump, Putin and company? Good luck with that.
4
CNN just aired more fake news when it aired a testimony from a good looking woman who said she was in love with Trump. Now who is going to believe that?
33
Actually she is very believable. And most of us have no doubt as to Trump's character (i.e. lack thereof).
2
Emotionally intelligent and just plain intelligent people believe her story. If you can’t see that Trump cheats and lies and deceives on a regular basis by now...well...I just can’t fathom it honestly.
3
Everyone.
2
Why would Karen McDougal apologize to Melania Trump, or to anyone? She was not married. She is responsible for her own Agency. No woman can get a happily married man to cheat. And the only covenant in a marriage is between two spouses. I in no way endorse sleeping with married folk. But the buck stops there. Karen has no obligation to Melania or need to apologize to anyone but herself, for putting herself in harms way. Melania full on made a deal with the devil and is far too smart to feign ignorance that her husband is a serial cheater. Moreover, Melania has withstood the infinite affairs before and after Karen. That Melania has chosen to stay with DJT is just that. A choice. No pity for her, no hardship; Melania is a consenting adult who is exactly where she wants to be, with free will. Power and wealth is seductive as both these women know.
158
I look at Ms. McDougal's behavior a bit differently. Women should respect other women and that includes not sleeping with other women's husbands.
12
She's lucky - however, that NY matrimonial law does not recognize alienation of affection. For Trump - simple Class B misdemeanor - although I think Class-less might be more apt.
1
JFK and Clinton cheated on their wives, and Jefferson fathered a child with one of his slaves.
Yes. trump's behavior is repulsive. We can point out the hypocrisy of those who support him. It will not matter; trump's character was easily seen and researched leading up to the election. . .and still.
But where JFK and Clinton differ is that their wives stood by them. If Melania had any sense of self-worth, and wishes forever to put to rest that she is essentially a trophy-wife and a gold-digger, then she should leave the White House with Barron in tow and file for divorce.
That would be the mother of all distractions.
34
It's unfair to use today's morality on things that happened in the past. Was Red Skelton's punchy ex-pug, Bolivar Shagnasty, an insensitive put-down of those with A.C.T. brain injuries.
"If Melania had any sense of self-worth, and wishes forever to put to rest that she is essentially a trophy-wife and a gold-digger, then she should leave the White House with Barron in tow and file for divorce."
So, what you're saying is that if theFirst Lady had any self-respect, she would leave her cheating husband, and take her kid with her. Just curious: Is that the same advice you gave Hillary?
1
"she is essentially a trophy-wife and a gold-digger,"
Interesting. Is every woman that marries a wealthy man, considered a "trophy-wife and a gold-digger, or does your comment only apply to the First Lady?
2
How can a "Christian" Trump supporter explain to his kids that this President's behaviour is what's going to make America great. I am sure Putin has less number of scandals to deal with.
23
My guess is that Putin also has a lot of dead bodies on his curriculum vitae.
5
Putin may have less scandals to deal with, but a lot more bodies of critics to deal with.
1
All trumps women, including actual wife , look alike , made from the same mold , with the same moral background
25
Why is this woman any more believable than Gennifer Flowers or Paula Jones?
6
So Karen McDougal got all offended when he offered her money and she said she wasn't 'that kind of girl'. Then she goes and takes 150,000 from AMI when her former boyfriend decides to run for President. That does makes her 'that kind of girl'. She also shared handwritten notes she took about the relationship with The New Yorker magazine. Who makes handwritten notes about their relationships unless they have something else in mind? I think she used a rich, famous man with deep pockets, and may have been waiting to profit off of it all along.
AMI will probably sue her because she obviously breached her contract in the pursuit of more money and notoriety.
13
So what if she took notes? Andrew McCabe also took notes about Donald Trump. Lots of people write things down. I don’t think that is in itself suspicious.
1
You forgot the part where the "rich, famous man with deep pockets" took Some Lady Not His Wife to dinner and then to bed while his Mrs. Wife With a Baby was at home. He kept it up for a year. Quelle Surprise- not only with her, but Stormy Daniels as well, and who knows who else.
Your language around her is "cheater" and your language around him is "victim of some sort but not accountable". I believe he was the married party out sniffing around. National Inquirer ditched her story because the editor is an enabler of Trump for god knows what reason.
1
What Trump did in his relationships with McDougal and Daniels was improper, but what isn’t talked about much is his complete lack of respect for Melania and the fidelity of marriage. Is it possible Trump’s and Melania’s prenuptial agreement actually contemplated in writing the concept of open marriage?
10
Ms. McDougal's candor and humility are striking; something everyone in Trump's corner would be well-advised to emulate.
15
Candor and humility? She prostituted herself to Trump, then the National Enquirer, now the TV networks. This is your role model?
20
Typical response: Blame the woman.
She did not prostitute herself. She rejected his money. Yes, she accepted money to “tell her story,” but that was a decade later. And, if you believe Trump, he had nothing to do with that payment.
What about blaming the man who is willing to pay for sex?
2
Two consenting adults engaged in a relationship that attracted the media story.
Your opinion is that the lady "... prostituted herself..." Ouch! Why does Biblical times, stone throwing come to mind? Are we to assume that DJT was the better angel?
Oh please!
1
Sad. She didn't even know she was a pro. Also, more evidence that for Trump women are nothing more than a menu item in the drive through take out lane. Not for me to say how women in this country should resond to this old school chauvinism, but I hope there will be consequences.
27
So let me get this straight: He offers you cash after sex and you think it's true love?
A Trumpster if I've ever seen one.
78
THAT is the definition of Trumpster, if I've ever heard one.
If our First Lady is fine with polyandry, I guess Trump's behavior is all okay. It's a family matter, the evangelicals would have it (now that it's a Republican President; Democrats are held to higher morals standards). But even in that case, as role models to America, the First Couple should be straightforward about the matter of philandering. Trump denies these affairs -- we know that to be false. So is Trump's denial merely for the public, with Melania Trump feeling fine, maybe even complicit, about the affairs, yet apparently also okay with the President lying to America?
I'm sorry, but the First Lady is not off the hook here with silence. The First Couple cannot have this matter both ways. Are they a polyandrous couple or not?
17
Jackie Kennedy Onasis was silent - right up to the time she died!
"In love" Really Karen? You have to realize it had to have been only one directional. DJT only loves himself and money but nothing else.
28
"Somebody's lying and it's not me." Perhaps the understatement of the year!
7
Look for Putin to seriously interfere with America's electric grid on Sunday at 6:58 p.m. Eastern Daylight TIme — in advance of the "60 Minutes" interview with Stormy Daniels and at the surreptitious request of Trump.
16
This interview only accomplished one thing: it proved the president a liar. White Evangelical Christian Republican Trump voters just heard from one of their own, just trying to "share her truth."
18
So an ex-Playboy bunny knowingly has sex with a newly married man. Seems there's enough blame to go around for two people on this one.
8
She owed nothing to Melania. Trump did.
16
Wow- that was funny.
for accuracy and context you meant: "Newly married for the 3rd time and already cheating on the wife who just gave birth to a son". With at least 2 women. For a year.
No, give him some credit here.
38
"She owed nothing to Melania. Trump did."
What about a lack of common decency on Ms. McDougal's part?
Oh right, Ms. McDougal's actions are excusable because Trump is sleazy.
4
The silence is deafening. The depth of Republican hypocrisy knows no bounds.
57
Why is this more important than the two dozen women who Trump sexually assaulted?
34
It says a lot when the leader of the Republican Party is a low-life cheat.
9
It's not! But it shows how he operates to get what he wants. First try to buy it, then try to get it for free, and if that fails, just take it.
1
What is lost here is the service Trump has performed. For generations the chattering class of pundits, many employed by The NY Times, have spouted the view that this politician could not get elected because he/she was divorced or unfaithful or otherwise had engaged in behavior which a puritanical body politic would never approve of.
Turns out, that was baloney. Our population is less judgmental and more self interested. On the whole, people do not care that much how our political class behaves on their own time-it is what the politicians do for the people when they are at work that matters.
What happened in 2016 was that a lot of people saw Trump and Hillary as equally self-interested: the Clinton’s became rich-hundreds of millions of dollars rich-serving the people? Right. In the end, Trump did better because his voters believed him and Hillary’s not so much.
Another myth Trump exploded was that money buys elections and with Citizens United, Democracy was doomed. Wrong. Hillary outspent Trump and lost. Which does not stop the half wits such as Donna Brazile from trying to raise more money-of which they of course get a cut.
Until we come face to face to face with these truths: voters are not that judgmental or dumb and money really does not buy elections-we will have sub-standard government.
Finally, the Times needs to address it role in all of this - their prudish reporting is not helpful but some good examination of what can be learnt from 2016 might be.
5
"Trump did better because his voters believed him and Hillary’s not so much."
I think you're ignoring some very obvious facts about why Trump did better.
1
I don't care about her story, but I do care that evangelicals who have been screaming about how important family values are to them for the past 40 years have finally shown that they are full of it.
135
Evangelicals believe in forgiveness of sins and that people aren't perfect.
Call me old-fashioned, but a "love" relationship "facilitated" by a bodyguard lacks a certain je ne sais quoi, ne c'est pas?
56
Would someone please give Trump a copy of George Washington's
"Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior?" I think Trump will need the audio version.
54
Ha ha. Well said.
It's taking every ounce of my strength not to become numb to the sheer volume of incidents involving egregious behavior with this president. From the typo-filled and toxic Twitter rants to his fundamental disrespect for women, minorities, immigrants, opponents, the media, and frankly anyone who dares to be less than fawning over him -- it's beyond depressing. We have to care. I've lived in countries where people shrug and give up. They're called dictatorships.
28
She was attracted by Trump's posture. Hilarious. Which one would that be? Smug grin, chin up, and chest puffed out? Sitting down, leading forward as though ready to write a cheque for an apartment? Face contorted and hands spread wide to indicate that he's a victim and everyone is out to get him. Every week it gets better and better. Can't wait for more.
20
Yes, Garry. Trump is the star of a potentially 4 year-long Panto. The sane among us hope that the curtain comes down soon.
What a classy guy...bringing his mistress to his HOME to show off his pad and denigrate his wife's room, ( and all that implies)....
WHERE Is the moral outrage of the evangelicals?
WHere are the screams from those who demanded to know HOW Hillary could stay with Bill?
I believe her. Why else would she claim to EVER have had relations with this creep?
64
They're tuning it out. It's as if this news doesn't exist.
3
Love a Trump? Now I know she's lying.
10
And, admired his posture? Maybe she needs glasses
4
Whatever he offered to pay her, without a shred of doubt, was not enough.
32
This just in! Sleazy, corrupt, treasonous, deceitful sociopath has affair! In related news, the Sun came up in the East today!
14
It is rather depressing, the number of beautiful and otherwise sensible women who are passionately attracted to this monster.
25
Anyone who goes with Trump is easily satisfied, or has no respect for herself.
10
You knew he was married. You cheated and disgraced his wife. So don’t call wolf now. If you had any class or heart you would apologize to Mrs Trump.
8
How quickly you denigrate the female. Where are your harsh words for the male?
19
she did apologize; the evangelicals have not apologized for continuing to support trump ; ray sipe
13
I think she did
5
Who cares? It's just about sex. Everybody does it. Why does The Times think this is news worthy of their publication?
3
because some of us still think there is a right and wrong;it is wrong to lie; cheat; steal; have an affair when married; no "mulligans"
4
Because the President of the United States has called her a liar which is libel. Can't wait for the discovery phase.
18
Sorry, but no, everybody does not behave like the sociopath and sexual predator, Donald Trump, does. Furthermore, his despicable actions with all of the women he most likely abused speak volumes as to how misogynistic he is.
9
This woman thinks Trump is Brilliant and Charming and even considered marrying him even after being treated like a prostitute and knowing that Trump was cheating on his wife whom he married barely a year before. She was in "love" with that kind of a guy? It took 10 months for her to feel guilty conscience? After all this and after being disgusted by Trump's bragging about grabbing women she even voted for him. Was her "love" for Trump's money ?
What can you say about a woman like that? Brilliant or Charming or Loving?
NYT ought to be ashamed of indulging in such "yellow Journalism"!
7
you should be ashamed for attacking the woman. did you even watch the interview? she paid a high price in guilt for her affair; trump paid nothing ray sipe
9
Trump, as we all know, lies 24/7 and is immediately backed up by the immoral and craven republican party. And you want to attack this woman?
12
Don't understand why this tawdry tale is news fit to print or air on CNS. There appears to have been no attempt to establish any of the allegations made by Karen McDougal or her claims that she loved Donald J. Trump and cried when he offered her money after their first assignation. What else except money and attention does this woman want now? And why should we care?
2
If our First Lady is fine with polyandry, I guess Trump's behavior is all okay. It's a family matter, the evangelicals would have it. But even in that case, as role models to America, the First Couple should be straightforward about the matter. Trump denies these affairs -- we know that to be false. Is Trump's denial merely for the public, with Melania Trump feeling fine about the affairs, yet apparently also fine about the President lying to America?
I'm sorry, but the First Lady is not off the hook here with silence. The First Couple cannot have this matter both ways. Are they a polyandrous couple or not?
6
Polygyny or polyandry?
honestly, who cares. I mean really. Clinton did it, Kennedy did it. really, who cares?
3
The people who are constantly being told how immoral and un-Christian they are for supporting policies that consider the realities of women, the young, and the otherwise marginalized in our society. That's who cares!
10
people who do not care are giving up ; not me; I will fight trump and his ilk till the end ray sipe
8
Clinton admitted his affair with, that woman, Ms. Lewinsky. Trump has denied all of the allegations from the dozens of women who have bravely come forward.
6
The NYT's has become like the NY Post when it comes to covering Trump's sexual exploits. Any of us who lived in NY during the 80's are not shocked about Trump and his sex life.
You also seem to be trying to denigrate Ms. McDougal and Ms. Daniels in all your articles about them by making sure to note one is a "Playboy" model and the other a "porn" actress.
3
But one was a Playboy model and the other a porn actress.
Those are just facts.
19
In the interview she referred to herself as a Playboy model. This article refers to Stephanie Clifford as "the adult entertainment star."
2
So McDougal's sorry to Melania. So why did she grant this interview which further humiliates Melania? So disingenuous!
8
@Richard McCartan
So, you'd rather McDougal stay silent, and trump gets away with yet another sleazy act?
That's a rather myopic viewpoint; especially in light of the fact that the alt right and their stance that they're such God Fearin' folk.
11
I don't think Melania has it in her to be humiliated. Have you seen her nude photos? She married a jerk for money and that's about the size of it.
7
Maybe Billy Bush should question Mr Trump about his sex life. Seems that's the only person to whom he will tell the truth. Sad for everyone involved - including the American people. We deserve better ya'll. Integrity matters. I learned that the hard way and I'm glad I did.
By the way - addicts don't "get caught" their only hope is that enough truth finally emerges and it overwhelms them into a state of honest acceptance -
7
Oh yes...That old love story that starts with an old guy mistaking you for a prostitute. These are always heartwarming.
110
Poor Karen. Donald Trump is lying when he confesses love for any person besides himself.
16
What kind of girl are you exactly? You meet a married man, give him your number, meet him for dinner on his birthday and sleep him on the first date ! Perhaps the offence wasn't in the offer made, but instead in how much. At this point, we know there is a price.
Say what you will about the president's moral turpitude, and you would be right, but it is hard to see these cases of porn-star/Playboy-model-sues-president as anything but extortion. Would these lawsuits be filed if Donald Trump weren't president. I don't believe so; I suspect these women would have taken the money and held their peace.
But beyond the sordid details to these debauched encounters is the law of contracts. When a person signs an agreement and takes the benefit of that agreement, he should be held to its terms. And it doesn't matter if the opposing party is the vermin, Donald Trump.
I hope that if the courts find there was no coercion in the making of these agreements that AMI and EC will seek enforcement of the penalties. I suspect, however, the attorneys for these women see the liabilities in that pursuit. And isn't that what this is really all about: I keep the benefit of our previous agreement; I violate the agreement; you can't do anything about it without putting yourself in legal jeopardy; oh, and by the way, I may extract further benefit from you in light of your new status.
No one should feel any sympathy for these people--most of all these women.
4
Well, if we have YOU, who needs the judicial system? Clue: those attorneys would not have taken the case had they thought their client would lose.
8
trump is a serial abuser; using money; power; legal documents to get his way. vote out gop and trump ray sipe
8
Both women want to return the silence payments.
Hmmm,
She was in love with a bigot, sexist, racist, birther, philanderer but she never knew that side of him. After several months of having sex in different parts of the country with the bigot, sexist, racist, birther, alleged guilt allegedly caught up with her and she, "the other woman," broke it off. Now she just wants to tell her story without capitalizing on it. Sounds like TV miniseries is on the horizon.
Sounds like a hell of a movie.
13
I imagine sociopaths are very smooth talkers.
1
Why would anyone pursue the ultimate Glass House when they cannot control their stone-throwing?
5
First off it matters because POTUS lied about all of these accusation. Secondly, Ms. McDougal shouldn't have to apologize to anyone. ITS all on POTUS the cheater!
14
It's on her too. She knew he was married and didn't care. In the Bible, but the married partner and the one he was having an affair with were stoned to death. These ladies know full well what they're doing and playing the crying victim to get interviews and settlements AFTER having already receiving hush money. Its nothing but extortion and this woman like Stormy are nothing more than extortionists.
4
first they wanted what they thought they could get from trump--money, gifts, career advancement. then they take their settlement money. now that they think there's even more money out there for them, they want to reneg on their deal and tell their stories. they really are nothing but prostitutes and should be sued for violating the agreements they made.
1
I hate to appear like I am defending a Scoundrel. POTUS was being himself, for Pete's sake. I don't care for her apology but she ought to be ashamed or at least embarrassed that she loved him even after being treated as a prostitute and for participating in a philanderer's cheating game. McDougal doesn't deserve any sympathy at all. After all. she is a co-conspirator or at least one who aided and abetted such almost criminal behavior of an adulterer.
1
quite a life you cut out for yourself. enjoy your 15 minutes and understand that when all is said and done, nobody really cares. one day you will look back on all of this and grimace at your choice and behavior. character and virtue is sadly lacking in this episode of your life.
8
"character and virtue is sadly lacking in this episode of your life."
You're referring to Trump, no?
12
both!
3
Why is McDougall out there? What is she trying to accomplish? Her whole interview was based on protecting herself and Trump. She stated she's a Republican and even voted for Trump even after all the horrendous things he did, concerning the sexual harassment accusations, the Access Hollywood tape. Furthermore she stated that she was quite comfortable in having her story squashed and buried. For over 20 years she was out for a good time and did not think of the repercussions of cheating with a married man and carried on a ten month relationship. She still seems attracted to him. Her only beef seems to be that AMI did not honor the agreement of allowing her to write stories and be a model for older models. She seems to be ok with everything else. When you grow older you realize the mistakes of your youth. McDougall did not want to expose her story and claiming she did not want to upset her mother? Her entire lifestyle in the past should have upset her mother. Now with these interviews she has done the complete opposite. We all know Trump is a pig, that's out there for all to see. He's cheated on all his wives while married. McDougall is just another statistic. In fact he cheated on McDougall as well with Porn Star Stormy Daniels at the very same time. While she seems to be articulate, she does not seem to be too smart.
13
What does she want? Money and her 15 minutes.
3
She was conned by Trump. Our nation is being conned by the GOP. She still has some denial issues going on because she genuinely believed this Trump thing loved her. And our country, do we believe those in power love us too?
Denial is the Kool-aid being served today and everyday and the servers aren't picking up the tab.
4
He compared her, favorably, to his daughter? High ick and crazy factor....
45
Which is what makes it sound completely true.
Can't wait to hear from Stormy. Evangelicals, is Trump still your man?
22
Too bad this isn't France where this sort of behavior is more or less condoned. If the model's story is true, it is not a good thing, particularly for the CINC's family. If we're honest though, this guy is just like Bill Clinton (though perhaps less charming) and exhibiting defensible behavior. Logically, I will be disappointed and cry foul if there is any sort of investigation, especially if it leads to impeachment. [Double standard = Awesome!]
2
Adultury may be morally degraded but it is not an impeachable offense. However, illegal campaign contributions are, and paying off someone for the benefit of a political candidate's campaign is a form of illegal campaign contribution. You do the math.
28
Ms. McDougal the "former playboy model" (that's a mighty fine euphemism for whatever it is the woman did before she grew too old to do it) found Mr. Trump "brilliant."
My head hurts.
22
Everyone involved in these affairs should have known better and is getting what they deserve, except one.
Barron Trump, I pray for peace for you.
9
Why does this matter? Presidents before Trump have been unfaithful to their wives. With Trump, though, it's more about a pattern of taking what he wants, when he wants it, with complete disregard for consequences. If he's going to have unprotected sex with women other than his wife, it indicates his lack of care and concern for the person that should be primary to him. He is incapable of imagining any long-term consequences, or that his actions could irreparably damage another . This is also how behaves with the American people. If war feels like a distraction, he'll initiate it. If conjuring up another conspiracy theory feels like fun, he'll lie and lie and even hire people to perpetuate the lie. If seeing the stock market take a dive makes him feel important, he take actions that put the entire country on edge. He's doing everything his way now, without protecting us. We have all been infected.
18
Kathryn, it's a national tragedy just how brilliantly on target your comment is.
4
Dear NY Times: We get that you don't like Trump; no one, or many, if not most, don't. Instead of constantly headlining this extreme narcissist's past philandering and current, daily, dangerous, stupid tantrums, evidencing pathetic pleas to be loved, how about starting to seriously -- with sustained context -- focus and report on how we are losing what is left of at least our nominal American democracy by the plutocratic government he fronts for and is clearly being used by, and how we are being placed on a very dangerous war footing by the president's appointments and the Congress's do-nothingness about this impending disaster. Unless you, NYT, want war again, as during the Iraq Invasion and Occupation lead-up and execution. Please, let TMZ cover Trump more. (They should; they do great celebrity reporting! And they'll free you of this 'duty'!) You start to be the media adults and help stop us from self and maybe even greater destruction by reporting that better enables us to understand the mess and its history. Leave most of the salacious stuff for the supermarket check-out shelves. You need to be smarter.
25
So you believe this is nothing, just as the Evangelicals do? Why does Trump get a pass on every single sign of corruption? We keep moving the red line for him. WHY??? Ya think Trump would have given Obama a pas for the same garbage?
2
I think this woman was trotted out in an attempt to make trumpkin appear less odious, i. e. " they were in love... ". I don't see what she hopes to accomplish by all this blabbering. For the record, though, nothing can make him less odius
9
I hear there is a run on mulligans at Sams - Evangelicals are seen lining up to snatch every one of them.
13
Sorry, but you are that kind of girl. And he's the kind of guy who cheats on his wives, betrays his children, defiles his word, lies for amusement, and pays that kind of girl because for Donald J. Trump, the whole world is that kind of girl.
78
Trump had a consensual adult affair with this and likely many other women, which makes him a bad husband for sure. But what consequences will there be for the Trump presidency? Likely none. His base has already baked his behavior into their view of him and moved on. It would be more useful to focus on the decisions he has made — for example the hard-line John Bolton — than his private behavior, which is no better or worse than a number of other presidents.
8
The boys love this behavior, Mr. Siegel. That's why Socially Conscious Women must step up and take one-half the power in OUR United States of America and the world.
Socially Conscious Women want more than a quick roll in the sheets and war.
11
A man that minimizes his relationship to his family and publicly humiliates them shows a kind of cowardice that is repellent to normal American women. Watching this guy model sleazy behavior for his young son to see is grotesque.
Not that Trump or his base care.
8
Trump's entire life is one transaction after another. No emotion, no shared experience, no love. What can this person do for me, what can this deal do for me, how can I exploit this relationship.
But, finally, his Jenga Tower of a life has Muller's hand removing key pieces. This won't end well, pardon or not.
14
If the shoe were on the other foot, the republicans would be up in arms - literally. So here's one myth we can officially take of the republican/christian playbook: "Character matters." It's about - and all about - politics.
11
I hear she regrets taking the $150,000 instead of holding out for a Cabinet post.
17
Money for sex? I'm surprised he didn't try to make her pay him...
17
I think Melania should divorce Trump, get a big settlement, and go somewhere out of the spotlight and raise her son. Trump's supporters wouldn't care, and it would be one less hypocritical thing going on in the White House. We could put the focus back on his inability to lead this nation, as opposed to his inability to be honest with this wife.
15
Dear little girl: Please spare the country and his wife any more sordid details. This little spiel reeks of insincerity. You and Trump were perfectly matched--surprised he didn't marry you too. Now then---after that--it's time for a shower.
6
Alright, alright Trump likes prostitutes.
So, he was younger then, I doubt if he is that into "it" now.
2
Are you kidding?
2
Kind of funny that Mr. New York doesn't know when to tip or not.
But the minute entertainment values aside, Trump is a dog. And not the White House pet, unfortunately. It's like we're watching the crumbling of America the Great in front of our eyes; there is no one in leadership that is actually great. On either side. So we are left with this low-brow tv show for a presidency, and that's what we are exporting. No wonder Putin is having the time of his life. Everyone of these people involved knows what sells, including McDougal, and the lot of them are disgusting. No empathy on my part. The only thing that would make me feel hopeful is if people from both sides started to put their foot down and expect more from our leadership.
7
What is surprising, and profoundly distressing, is how some women have so little self respect that they will parade their sordid affairs in front of the entire world. All they seem to care about is notoriety and book deals. I just don't get it.
14
Does this also get a "mulligan?"
5
Trump uses money as his weapon. Once someone has taken his money he uses it against them.
5
You mean there are people who have sex and don't pay for it?
7
No, everyone pays for it in the end.
1
After the Trump presidency there will be no expectation of integrity or morality in a political candidate.
8
Oh d!ear God, please make this stop! Every day, a new shock to our systems - philandering, firings, taunts, and outright venal stupidity on display. I wake up wondering, "What now?" and dreading Trump's ultimate distraction, war.
Just when you think that it can't get worse, it does. You have to ask what sort of mental sickness inhabits the loud minority who still stand solidly with this caricature of a president? What would he have to say or do to lose their lockstep loyalty?
Who was it that said that voters get the kind of leadership they deserve...and deserve to get it good and hard? But I really don't think I did anything to deserve all this.
25
But 43% of Americans approve. What a country!!!
With the general mindset of today's Amerian population, if it were 1940, we'd all be speaking German today.
11
Like you, I seem to be saying, “What now?” once or twice a day. It was ridiculous the first week. I now have no adjectives left to describe it.
She described herself as a Republican and said she voted for Mr. Trump in November, describing him as “brilliant” and “charming”
“I’ve never seen that side of him,” she {and the rest of the world} said.
12
So what difference does it make? Trump’s multiple affairs were widely known before the election.His supporters did not care.The media must focus more on affairs of state than on Trump’s extra-marital affairs.Given Trump’s reckless comments and actions both domestically and globally his mindless lust must be contained.
5
"the media must focus more on affairs of state than on Trump's affairs."
Followed by "his mindless lust must be contained."
Really?
2
He can have sex with whomever he wants. But when he spends months covering it up and lying about it, then it's our job to take the wheel.
14
Two things struck me about this story. One, she said he was brilliant. I could maybe buy charming, but "brilliant" instantly calls her credibility into question. Second, if it is true, on the long, long list of possible crimes and misdeeds he's committed over the years, this one is probably the least consequential or surprising but also the least open to interpretation. His offer of payment for sex means he was knowingly breaking the law.
23
“Youre a smart girl”!!! Are you kidding? SAD. Very sadly “smart girl” has been played. Where is her anger?
12
Ms. McDougal "loved' The Con Don and thinks he loved her. She thought he was brilliant.
Like all good Con Men, Donny is a star liar and pretender. They pretend to care to get control. The Con Don is just another worthless, inherited wealth human being who thinks he has something.
He has nothing of value to humanity.
29
There are a lot of reports from men as well as women who found Trump charming and disarming in personal meetings.
They all seem to go away thinking what they want to think: he likes me, he is going to hire me, he might marry me, he listend to my advice. Yet they discard every other report, every rumor, and the history of his past betrayals because - for a time - they think they have a special insight into his " real" self. I think there is some self selection involved: Comey wasn't charmed. It is in part the seduction of wealth and power, and in part shutting down the critical mind.
Trump is a user: he doesn't "love" in any sense of the word I understand. For him to claim to love, or friendship, or simply acknowledge the worth of another person, that person must be giving something to Trump- again - male/female- it doesn't matter , that person must bring some material and psychological good to Trump or they are ejected from his very small circle. The short cut description is transactional -- but in his case, even his closest relationships are solely arm's length and transactional.
In part he cannot serve the country: he has never "served" any other entity but his father - under duress - and himself. Our presidents do have sizable egos - but most ( in my lifetime) have enough stability to understand that this is one role where they are going to give more than they get back. He doesn't understand that.
56
Well said.
3
This woman is as pathetic as the media outlets who are reporting about her!! More coverage about how people are organizing and actively resisting this administration such as the March for Our Lives tomorrow and the courageous resistance against Disaster Capitalism in Puerto Ricoa and less about Stormy Donald’s naughtiness is what you should be giving your readers. This is insulting and childish. FYI like ‘hace mucho tiempo que’ Ms. McDougel’s 15 minutes was up!
18
Sorry, it is totally relevant. This is Trump's character on parade.
He obviously is petrified of what Daniels has on him and the public can generalize that this is how this man has operated in many realms- including opening himself to political extortion or blackmail.
That is why people made a deal of character back in the day.
21
I agree with Bob R. We should be hearing far less about Trump's affairs and far more about the millions of ordinary people whose lives are being devastated because of what Trump and the government is and has been doing. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren just had a powerful and important online town meeting about wealth inequality which 1,700,000 people 'attended' online, and neither the NY Times nor the Washington Post even mentioned it! Not before, not during, not after. They seem to have forgotten that "democracy dies in darkness".
5
@Ms:
I disagree.
"The Darkness" is being lit up by exposing Trump, Melania, and the religious base that supports him as incredible hypocrites. This administration's culture wars on others needs to fizzle completely in plain sight.
2
Insanity comes in all shapes and sizes, even in Playboy Bunnies.
14
The video is hilarious. McDougal comes off dumb as a brick. “He loved me”—give me a break. These greedy sycophants deserve each other. Yuck.
18
You can comment on Ms. McDougal's intelligence on the basis of a video? You think the shame she expressed was hilarious? You've just commented on yourself. I guess you've never put a foot wrong. Good for you Rachel!
3
Most Americans expect their sexual partners to treat intimate romantic or sexual relationships as private. What if the president were a woman. What would America think of man who came forward to boast they had engaged in sex with her or revealed the intimate details of their romance or sexual acts in news media interviews, videotapes or tell-all books?
5
Um, you mean like Trump constantly boasting about his sexual exploits including sexual assault?
12
AS IF Trump chose this woman - or others - or Marla - or Melania - based on character and independence of mind, or accomplishments . . .
2
So to all those who hated Hilary during the election because she stood by her man, how do they square that with their support of Mel and Trump? Trump was cheating on her before and while she was pregnant, and she stood by him.
45
They'll just make up some excuse so they can still support Trump.
6
And then it is of course possible to be disgusted with all of them.
Well, she literally stood by him. Figuratively, likely not so much.
1
She voted for him to do to the rest of America what he did to her.
With no protection.
Unless someone is alleging harassment or rape I'm not seeing the news value.
13
For those who say "Why does his private life matter", I would say because it speaks to whether his trustworthy and honorable, whether he treats other human beings well or poorly, and whether it reflects on the likelihood that other allegations about groping, harassing and assaulting women become even more credible given that he has lied about at least two affairs. We are also entitled to make judgments about him based on who he has the affairs with, as they speak to what is important to him.
230
Probably more about the two boys, (i.e. testosterone level) than those "trustworthy and honorable" things you mention. On our collective judgement, if we want Jesus for President, or Billy Graham or Joe Smith, we may have to wait for another second coming. Or we could elect Adam Schiff who is alive and perfect.
1
Careful there, Doug! Someone might compare him to Jefferson and want to build a memorial to him.
Trump's failings as a husband and father are clear and are reflected in his failings as president. By now all America should understand that Trump is our President and a con artist that can't be trusted. Sad!
20
She's "not that kind of girl?"
Is this satire? She committed adultery eyes open, and she's now trying to profit.
30
She already profited. If she is smart she should move on to Donald Trump, Jr.
4
AMI didn't fulfill their contract.
I listened to most of the interview; more importantly to the team of expert analysis that CNN put together afterwards to discuss it.
Everyone there seemed to fall for Trump's mistress McDougal; her "honesty", her vulnerability. They marveled at her tale of what a charming, nice guy Trump was. This was transposed against the story of him bringing her to the bedroom in the Trump Tower where he lived with his wife Melania.
I mean how sick is that? Of course Trump is going to be charming to a beautiful woman who is 40 years his junior who wouldn't take money from him (he's a cheap narcissist) and who freely helps him break his wedding vows (I would like to see Trump and Melania's wedding vows by the way, they must be pretty vague).
Trump probably has recorded that CNN interview. Listening to this woman fawn all over him on a loop. Yeah, McDougal was believable.
What is hard to believe though is how these crazy American Evangelical Christians continue to support this corrupt and immoral president... I suppose it is the opportunity for them to put the power of prayer to test. I wonder if they realize that their prayers are having the opposite effect on the country that they live so freely in....
46
When I look at conservative sites evangelicals and the RW have one response on their support - Bill Clinton and JFK.
Some men even gush over his courage - jealously.
3
This ludicrous interview, complete with convoluted claims that some kind of campaign finance violation took place, was a disgrace. It increased the credibility of Trump's cries of "Witch Hunt", which is certainly the exact opposite of what Anderson Cooper was trying to do.
The only thing that it really established, was CNN's bias, and the desperate urge some people have to get their "15 minutes of fame" as they find themselves aging - and yes, as McDougal told us, picking up a few million bucks would be good too.
McDougal's claim that she broke off the affair because she felt guilty about hurting Melania, was the "icing on the cake" that tipped this interview into the realm of farce.
13
You're right. Trump is a Saint from Heaven.
4
Mark,
Actually, that is pretty much what McDougal said when Anderson Cooper asked her what she thought of Trump personally. She even said that she voted for him, long after the affair was over.
By the way, I did not vote for Trump. I dislike horrid politicians just as much as I dislike bad journalism.
1
First we had POTUS. Then FLOTUS. With Trump, we have an ever-changing STOPUS (Sex Toy of the President of the United States).
17
Jeeez, people, CHARACTER does count!
The sleazy fool currently residing in OUR White House doesn't have any.
32
Let's see if I have this straight.
The President of the United States inexplicably, mysteriously refuses to criticize Vladimir Putin.
By some accounts, self described "billionaire" Trump is up to his eyeballs in borrowed Russian rubles.
Robert Mueller has subpeonaed Trump's financial records.
Is Ms. McDougal a whore? Not in my book. She presents another sad tale of an aging, beautiful woman trying to pay the bills.
Meanwhile, Trump may be selling himself and the US Presidency to Putin.
I think I know who is actually for sale here.
42
If I were Anderson Cooper, I'd burn my suit and take a Silkwood shower. None of these tawdry details matter. Follow the money. That's the real story.
42
I wonder how much money Trump tried to give her after their “date” at the Beverly Hills Hotel? Follow that money.
For real. And let's not forget that we STILL haven't seen one line of his tax returns.
Hey ! Wait a minute !
How much did he offer ?
12
If you want to investigate these stories, investigate the money. If there was some campaign irregularities that can bring this dangerous, Bolton-for-National-Security-Advisor, President down, I am very interested. Otherwise, leave it to the tabloids.
17
Please go after Trump for his endless corruption and incompetence. Trump has bragged about chasing women his entire life. No one is surprised by this affair and that includes his wife and hypocritical Christian supporters. They know exactly what he is and have already rationalized their choice.
23
My only possible explanation is that male Trumpers wish to buy prostitutes, seeing it as an expression of power in addition to sexual satisfaction, and female Trumpers just want to get paid for once.
Poor deluded Ms. McDougal and Melania Trump. Like all sociopaths, DJT loves only himself.
10
Melania knew what she was getting.
3
OK , She's an adult ,right ,made her own decisions . When her ,and the countless Conga line of prostitutes and porn stars and God knows what which the DNC are dragging out of the wood work go on Television they pout and whine like 5 year old children in this high pitched voice ,it's the worst kind of affected drama.
1
Don't drag the DNC into this...
5
Too funny. Who did Trump have sitting in the debates?
5
I suspect the above eloquent lines are written by Mr. President himself.
5
When this is meant as a dumb blond joke, it is very good one.
When this is serious . . . . Should the NYT not protect people being interviewed against their own utterances?
She apologized publicly to Melania.
Trump didn't.
42
Did they air the part where Trump made denigrating remarks about Black men and she was offended? That was my in the New Yorker article.
5
Trump likes the public humiliation for the alpha men he bragged about putting in his cabinet and then dismissed like some disturbed mafia boss with his dumb "tweets".
But it is hard to imagine how his wife is operating as "First Lady" when their marriage is crawling with other people coming out of the woodwork.
The whole White House is a freak show.
Maybe the Trump base is not against gay marriage but ANY marriage with just 2 people.
15
Not that kind of woman. Definitely the kind of woman who'd sell the rights to the story of her fling with an infamous rich guy. Definitely the kind of woman hoping for a shot at some reality show deal? Definitely hoping to cash in on having had sex with Donald? But, please, don't insult her by leaving some bills on the mattress. Can NYT NOT COVER anymore of Donald's rapidly aging and boring bedroom staff? Looks like they may be a dime a dozen and, really, who cares?
11
Ms. McDougal may yet have the opportunity to make her name Mrs. Trump.
2
I don’t think posters understand the evangelical mindset in relation to the political sphere. It’s not about the person, it’s about the narrow subset of issues their religious leaders fixate on, especially abortion and perceived religious freedom issues, like the freedom to engage in hate speech and discrimination in relation to gays.
When you think that millions of “babies” are being murdered each year, the personal conduct and moral compass of the leader is irrelevant. His ability to affect change is paramount.
Evangelicals don’t care about poverty, or fair taxation, or unjust wars, or political corruption, or justice denied, or climate change, or a host of other important issues they align more closely with progressives on. It’s all about abortion.
7
They don't care about babies either or they would be bothered by the fact that Republicans don't want to provide adequate health care for women or a living wage for families.
7
I think the lovey-dovey froth is so Trump and his legal pirhanas won't come down to hard on her. After all, what woman could possibly resist his charms? Reminds me of the 1933 song "Don't Blame Me" - "for falling in love with you."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9me94-Hcik
1
This is bad for everyone involved. Trump is a cad -- we know that evangelicals don't care about family values any more, so there's no story here -- but let this go... unless there is some kind of obstruction or threats of violence, that is. Then that's illegal.
3
El Presidente definitely has a "type".
No one fat, frumpy
Or otherwise lumpy.
And all of them all too ready to jumpy...
into bed.
4
None of this is really news. These women all exchange sex for some sort of indirect or direct financial compensation. And Don the Con is just a John. This woman, is the new face of the GOP. Anything for money.
14
As disgusting as Trump's behavior towards women and his disregard for marriage vows is, I'm afraid this type of man is appealing to the macho man and to the women who feel denigration is what they deserve. KEEP his name out of the news! He's basking in this filth.
2
Could the news media just take official notice of the fact that Trump is a pig and start covering serious news, like the appointment of John Bolton and threats to Robert Mueller?
4
She resembles Melania. I suspect they have a lot in common.
3
I wish Melania would dump him. I'm sure she won't for various reasons, but respect for her would skyrocket.
And Dump Trump has a nice ring to it.
5
It is all so sordid.
Men who abuse their
wives by engaging in
extramarital affairs...
the wives usually know
and "lock" the awareness
away to get on with life.
Divorce causes more pain and
hurts their children.
And the women...
a woman doing something
terrible to another woman.
It causes so much hurt
all around.
As much as this confirms
our worse feelings about
Trump - his shallowness,
his exploitation of people,
and his selfishness, it
also reflects poorly on
the woman involved.
6
I think we all know by now, despite the "if Obama did this" indignation, that indiscretions, crimes, missteps, faux pas, and incompetence only exist if the perpetrators are people of color, primarily black people.
So, if folks don't like that white leaders don't have to adhere to any laws or standards, while other people can be shot dead in their grandparents backyard while holding an iPhone, then do something about it. The only people who can dismantle, push back against, and deconstruct white supremacy are the beneficiaries of white supremacy.
But whining, "Well, how dare he" is not an option.
7
She is not doing anything to help Women's image at all, in fact just the opposite!
2
'Ms. McDougal said she was “disgusted” by the hot-mic “Access Hollywood” tape recording that came out late in the presidential campaign in which Mr. Trump bragged about grabbing women by the genitals, just as she was “mortified” when more than a dozen women leveled sexual misconduct allegations at him.'
And yet she voted for him.
9
She was "disgusted" when Trump bragged about grabbing women by the genitals and "mortified when more than a dozen women leveled sexual misconduct allegations at him"...
And yet she still voted for him. What is wrong with these people?
9
so Trump had an affair! And offered to pay. I'm shocked.......shocked!
Dog bites man story.
4
This is coming for the president of a country that prides itself on being a christian country. But I think in Christianity, you can do any thing: commit adultery, kill and oppress people, plunder and rob and you will be saved at the end, because Jesus has died for evil people like Trump.
4
Melania is the shame of our nation. She probably knew about all these affairs, puts up with it and legitimizes her husband's behavior.
Read the style section today and the son is just like the father.
Trump and his whole family are nothing but liars, cheats and grifters. God, I miss the Obamas.
11
Doesn't this capture the problem we face? Despite all this sly immoral behavior and lying she turns up to the polls in November and "trusts" Trump to run the country. He shows us who he is and half the people in this country voted for him all the same.
9
Ultimately, the play girl had a firmer moral core than a sitting president.
6
Someone who undresses herself for the Playboy in search for Money
and Fame classifies herself into a distinctive Categorie. The Search
continued by seeking the Attention of notorious Lothario Donald.
Come on Karen, dont play the "Love Story" and finally the victim.
Poor judgement of Donalds "approach" and alltogether naive.
Not accepting Money on the first night does not make you a Saint.
6
What does it make Donald?
4
She lost me when she described 45 as “handsome”. Way too much....
11
“I looked at him and said, ‘That’s not me, I’m not that kind of girl.’” She's some kind of girl; she slept with, had an affair with a married man. And because all of his infidelities happened before he became "President", what can we do. It's not grounds for anything concerning our country. It's more about his morals and values, and vows to his wife. This is a Donald and Melania issue, and not a We the People of the United States of America.
6
If the payoff to silence her was tied to his campaign, and was not properly declared as a contribution, it is very much our business.
I don't want to know details. I do want to know about any coverup.
How many women did Steve Bannon say they had to pay off for Trump? Hundreds. So we have plenty of proof that Trump is an obscene liar who can juggle and deny ( and then brag about) all kinds of sexual hook-ups. I'm sure Trump watched Karen's interview and felt pride that his base knows that such an attractive woman was "in love" with him. I'll bet he wishes he were back in NY so that he could hook-up with her again. Trump's base professes not to care about this side of Trump. What about lying about tax returns? What about violating the Emoluments clause of the Constitution every day of the week to take advantage of his presidency in order to enrich himself and his family? What about the "bill of love" for DACA? What about the lies and two minute promises he made to the survivors of the Parkland gun massacre, only to turn around and embrace the NRA again? Yes, it's awful that Trump has no sexual ethics, and refuses to honor his wives or his children (make no mistake: when you cheat on your spouse, you cheat on your kids as well) . But how can anyone support this man when they see the lies he tells to America?
5
Interesting that most of the male commenters are contemptuous of Ms. McDougal. Sexual predators like Trump have mastered the "art" of exploiting naive young women with talk of "love" and forever. Since we most often judge others by what we know of ourselves, it's conceivable that Ms. McDougal fell for Trump's lies. She's not alone--millions of Republicans voted for him.
5
McDougal was born in 1971. She was thirty-five years old in 2006 when she decided to have sex on the first "date" with a sixty year old man who happened to be a billionaire. In 2006 McDougal was neither young nor naive. She decided that the best thing she had to offer the world was naked pictures of herself and to be a rich man's plaything. To each their own but she's no victim.
8
I'm a woman and I have nothing but contempt for McDougal. I have even more contempt for Trump.
5
Donald should lay to rest all doubt by testifying under oath that it did not happen.
4
Would the NYT, CNN and the rest of the mass media PLEASE STOP chasing the shiny objects that glitter on the Trump Tree and get to the root of the problem: The very real policy and personnel changes that represent an existential threat to our country?
Those of us in NY already knew that Trump was a pig when it came to relationships. (See Marla Maple) This is not news.
8
With this interview, and the upcoming Stormy Daniels interview on 60 Minutes this Sunday, we truly have crossed the Rubicon. As much as I abhor 45 and the insanity and ineptness swirling around the White House and GOP, I find it difficult to believe this story deserved a one-on-one interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN.
While the interview itself was riveting, we, the public, have no right to the details of this tryst. We already know that 45 disdains women and looks at them merely as tools for his sexual gratification. What good does it do to splash such behavior all over the media?
What can be gained from this information other than remuneration for Ms. McDougal and is she even entitled to this legally?
The only thing worthwhile in this interview was her apology to Melania Trump for bedding her husband multiple times in a ten month period. Other than this, the entire interview, however well conducted it might have been, took the public ever closer to the precipice where propriety and privacy no longer matter and are forever replaced by salaciousness and greed.
4
So our President has many indiscretions. From what I read, we only know a small part of Kennedy's affairs. It all stinks. Worse, there is no privacy anymore, for anyone. So info. is mined for diaper choices, and political candidates. Maybe we should all learn to keep most info. out of the public realm. Ever notice how some people on Facebook make utter fools of themselves? Where exactly does this all end?
1
The Christian right and Pence really need to explain, really explain in terms of biblical foundations, how they can trample women's and gay rights but enable a serial adulterer.
31
The "explanation" I read was that they think he reminds them of a Persian king from the Old Testament. Yeah, that flies.
4
Mr. Trump is a brazen philistine and a sexual predator, yet no one seems to care very much. Let’s just hope that his impulses don’t spill over into other arenas.
2
I would hope she or anyone else who got close to him got paid - the guy's disgusting and repulsive, to say the least.
6
" Trump tried to pay her". No surprise there. Probably , he tried to use an IOU ,considering his reputation for stiffing contractors and others who provided services to him. Not even surprised that he was cheating on his third wife,who had recently given birth to his fifth child. He also cheated on his first two wives, notoriously and openly committed adultery, and sought publicity for his "sexual conquests". The only surprise is how his followers,particularly,the christian evangelicals, continue their adoration,and giving him more and more mulligans. He did not drain the swamp, he is the swamp.
5
Given Trump's apparent promiscuity it would be no surprise to me if the Russians do have some compromising material on him, as indicated in the Steele dossier. It would explain a lot.
7
I see no evidence here that any law was broken. On the other hand there are many indications that Trump has cheated on his taxes. Mueller, and all the liberals commenting here, should keep their eye on the ball. Tell us about his taxes, Mr. Mueller. Did he pay his taxes? Are we saps for paying ours?
4
I would have more respect for her had she serviced trump for money. the fact that she was involved with him out of personal desire calls into question her fundamental dignity as a human being.
8
It's not her dignity that should be questioned, but how easy it was for him to convince someone that he is a charming, honest guy concerned about the welfare of those he likes.
2
She fell in love with the Donald? Now, that really strains credulity.
10
The more I watched this interview, the more convinced I became that this is part of a Trump reality TV project.
The answers and delivery came across as carefully rehearsed. Let’s see, they were actually “in love”, he never behaved as anything but a gentleman in her presence, she still has feelings for him.
To cement her “good girl” status, she apologized to Melania and referred to her turn to religion.
Sounds like every mans dream: a good girl who is attractive enough to appear in Playboy magazine, who loved him then—doesn’t seem to have one bad thing to say about him—oh, and by the way—loves him still.
Come on folks—Donald thoroughly enjoyed this prime-time ruse, and I won’t be surprised if we learn that he was in on the planning. Distraction 101.
7
‘That’s not me, I’m not that kind of girl.’
I assume that we all remember the old joke who's next to last line is "Of course not! What kind of girl do you think I am?"
I think it's time that we start organizing Presidential news in categories, to save time. Something like
1) Today's Trump Affairs,
2) Today's Trump Corruption.
3) Pravda On The Potomac.
6
McDougal spoke very lovingly of Trump and says she even voted for him. She's not taking money from CNN and offered to pay back the $150,000. The details of her story are all out there now, so there's no longer an option for a book deal or mag expose. So what does she want?
So either she just wants her moment of fame (along with modeling work) or another chance with Trump when Melania leaves him.
Anyone notice her striking similarity to Hope Hicks?
5
I don’t know when I read this if I am dreaming or not. Seriously. Are we serious that we can let this man be our President? Are we? Do we have no shame?
5
How can a "Christian" Trump supporter explain to his kids that this is what leadership is all about?
4
If only the Democrats would stand for something besides de facto open borders and unlimited amnesty for every one of the 7.2 billion of the human species who are not already Americans, we would not have to think about this. As it is, given their rejection of Trump's deal that was more generous than President Clinton's own Jordan Commission recommendations, I fear Trump will be easily reelected in 2020 (even if he literally did shoot someone on Fifth Avenue). I had hoped Joe Biden maybe and now it turns out he and his son have been trading their political access for billions of dollars from the Chinese. Is there anyone honest in Washington? Maybe Tulse Gabbard?
3
@GRH
Democrats don't stand for "defacto open borders", regardless of what Fox "news" keeps peddling. They DO stand for the following:
DREAM Act for now; comprehensive reform next
Path for undocumented aliens to earn citizenship
Reform the INS; reduce immigrant backlog
Protect immigrants from exploitation by employers
Somehow, that in no way looks like "defacto open borders", sir.
6
OMG! and LOL! Please, don't spew Breitbart and completely discredited author Peter Schweizer (of the phony and debunked Clinton Cash) here. Hedge fund managers invest for everyone willing to play with risk in return for a big pay-out.
It's legal. It's not like borrowing laundered rubles to pay off personal debt or cover a failing real estate deal. It's a hedge fund.
4
Gee, how about a clean, healthy planet, affordable health care and education, equal treatment and opportunity for starters.
3
Cringing. May spend the day cringing. She's not smart enough to get the symbolism of the offer of payment, but she does intuit enough to be sad -- and who wouldn't be? It's hard to admit this but Trump keeps showing sides of himself that are uglier than we already knew. Posing with his family AND mistress? Bringing her into the family home? Again, we're assaulted by Trump sleeping with a woman and comparing her to Ivanka. The ick factor here is staggering.
17
What this interview really says is two things. We have a president with no morals and money was paid by a supporter to shut her up at a crucial time in the campaign, which is clearly an in-kind campaign contribution.
8
Was that the first time Trump ever offered to pay for services rendered?
3
Maybe I am missing the point here, since all the comments focused on the affair. This President has treated the country in the same manner he treated Ms. McDougal, sought her out, lied to her, secret meetings etc. His family has the same characteristics secret meetings with the Russians at the Trump Tower, promoting family business instead of the business of America. Yes, she was engaged in an affair, however this club as a lot of members ie few of the GOP governors who had to resign or had the government pay hush money to there assistants.This president has no shame and he destroys everyone who comes into contact with him and his swamp court. Everyone who can, vote, march tomorrow let your voices be heard ,educate your fellow citizens , this show has to come to an end.
11
Anyone who chooses to dismiss these and other revelations as more confirmation that Mr. Trump's was merely a cheating, lying husband have short memories.
Trump was heard bragging on tape about groping and molesting random women he met. When exposed, he loudly claimed he didn't actually do it, (got his wife to defend him) and proceeded to slander his victims, claiming they lied and he was the one telling the truth.
Thousands believed him and voted for him.
This is not just about a cheating husband. It's about a man who also serially abused and harassed women with whom he came in contact, including some strangers, lied about it and got elected based on those lies.
Ms. McDougal says she was a willing participant. But many other women Trump encountered were victims of unwanted sexually aggressive touching and groping.
Between extra-marital affairs, the very busy Mr. Trump engaged in behaviors that certainly appear to constitute a pattern of sexual abuse by a powerful man who has gone to a great deal of trouble to hide what he did in private and to use lies and slander to discredit and humiliate his accusers.
What else did Mr.Trump do? What else is he hiding that is criminal in nature or might expose his hypocrisy as a public figure? I and thousands of other women would like to know the full truth about Mr. Trump and what he has done with and to women. And how far he has gone to cover-up the truth.
2
President Trump's evangelical base will ALWAYS support him no matter what he does in the present or in the past so commenters here (myself included) need to get over that. He is changing the federal judiciary and the Supreme Court (Roe vs Wade, etc) so aren't efforts better put to getting people to register to vote and then vote? Forget the drama of his sordid past and get on with the business of fixing this mess with voters! Take action America before it's too late.
6
The Republicans are worried that the conniving, anti-Christian Democrats will come up with something that demeans Donald's integrity.
Just let them try.
4
Are you trying to be funny?
2
Is there anything left?
I intended it to accurately represent the Republican state of mind, which is funny enough, or at least strange.
2
So - just wondering. When juicy anti-Trump stories are in the news, does he use them as cover for his acts? Stormy is up on Sunday. Does he fire Mueller that afternoon?
5
The only person Trump is capable of loving is himself.
6
And Ivanka?
Sleeping with a Playboy Model - it doesn't matter
Sleeping with a porn actress - it doesn't matter
Paying to keep people quiet - it doesn't matter
Cheating on your wife - it doesn't matter
Bragging about harassing women - it doesn't matter
Accepting money from the NRA - it doesn't matter
Threatening your opposition with arrest and prosecution - it doesn't matter
Hiring staff with no ethical standards - it doesn't matter
Firing prosecutors and FBI agents seeking the truth - it doesn't matter
Inciting extremists to harass opposition and to violence - it doesn't matter
Why?
If Republicans in Congress make a stand against Trump, they will probably face stiff competition in their primaries. Only after November is this a topic that could be tackled, but since the right is getting what they want for now, it won't really matter.
3
"He always told me he loved me."
Wow - so women still believe these insipid, insincere and placating words when having an affair with a married man? I doubt if Trump ever knew the meaning of the word love for his actions certainly haven't ever shown that.
I'm just perplexed that it took Ms. McDougal 10 months before her sense of guilt of betraying Melania kicked in. With all due respect, is she as emotionally void as Trump or simply selfish and a dull knife in the drawer?
11
Hi Marge,
I found Ms. McDougal coming across as a bit naive. I also took the time gap in which she decided not to carry on with Donald to be when she realized they had no future together.
Unfortunately, the cliched ways that married men get women to have affairs with them are still in circulation. Regretfully, they must work. ;)
4
Thanks for your wonderful insight NM. Perhaps one of the reasons so many women fall for and truly believe that "He told me he loved me" line from married men is because they are alone, insecure, or think that is the best they'll ever do in the "romance" department. Also, a lot of cheating men are pretty savvy and good at spotting "weak" and/or "needy" women. Just speculating here, not ever assuming that any or even one woman feels or believes that, just thinking out loud. I sincerely apologize if my comments offended anyone.
3
Loved your posts. I see what you mean about whom married men look to exploit. I have had a number of married men try enticing me into affairs and although I am not easily emotionally manipulated, a lot of men seem to think so. I have gotten really bad pickup lines like "Where were you all my life?" Now, I would never get involved with a married man. I would never do anything that would hurt another woman. I also don't want to be used. And when I was young, my mom cautioned me that married men are the most aggressive in pursuit.
Hearing Ms. McDougal say that she considered marrying Donald, I had to wonder why she thought he would treat her better than his current wife, or the previous wives.
Thanks, as always, for writing. Fondest regards.
4
Nobody sinks America like the Trump Titanic.
Don't forget to vote for sanity on November 6 2018.
Dennis The Menace Trump and his Russian-Republican Congress are no way to manage a country.
106
You mean Dennison the Menace, don't you? ;-)
2
Or to go through life. As you said, start the beginning of the end by voting in November and working and supporting Democrats during the months leading up to the election.
1
This is completely laughable, so staged and immature. I am not for Trump in any way, but seriously?? There are other items that are more new worthy. I think the NYT, CNN and 60m have sunk to a new low. Don't degrade your readers/listeners/viewers intelligence.
10
being disgusted by someone is still not enough to disuade one from voting for that person??? Wow. This soap opera gets worse every day. And it's just part of the news. John Bolton back! McMaster out! China ready for all out trade wars!
Wake me up when this nightmare is over.
79
Yeah, you are "that kind of girl", Karen. Can you grasp why we might have difficulty accepting that you were attracted to his personality and his posture?
127
The attraction was his money.
4
Yeah. She slept with him. That’s pretty bad. Almost as bad as 63 million folks actually voting for Trump as president.
As much as this makes my skin crawl I can only hope that there is election money involved in payoffs and these women can do what the Congress will never do. Get this creep out of the White House.
92
Mr. Trump's offer to pay Ms. McDougal for their initial sexual encounter is actually called prostitution. That's why Ms. McDougal told him that she was not that kind of girl. Furthermore, remember that plenty of men all across America, with the exception of Las Vegas, have been put in jail for that exact same thing -- prostitution. It doesn't sound fair to me.
26
Trump's knee-jerk reach for his wallet after sex was probably just habit. Pitiful as that is.
2
Trump (allegedly) had an affair ten years prior to running for the oval office with a women in her thirties who did not work for him. Democrats express outrage.
Bill Clinton had an affair literally in the oval office with a very young white house employee and Democrats still think he is terrific.
This issue belongs to Melania and the tabloids, not the NYT.
12
WJC did not pay hush money to anyone, and paid a price for his bad behavior.
4
Trump publicly cheated on his first wife with his second wife, then publicly cheated on his second wife with his third wife, who he then cheated on with at least one porn star and one Playboy playmate, all the while committing sexual assault on a large group of women including multiple allegations of rape including child rape.
And then Trump pays hush money, potentially violating election laws, to keep it quiet. Don't equate this with Clinton who did far less which the Republicans attempted to impeach him for.
4
Yes we expressed outrage. We continue to express outrage about Bill Clinton's treatment of women. Don't tar Democrats with your brush.
4
Clearly Melania has known about Trump extramarital affairs, no? It sounds like the two of them had some sort of agreement. Not a problem unless you are someone who claims that you are a Super Christian who represents Family Values.
44
Apparently not even then a problem based on the silence so far. Spin it hypothetically 180° as a Democratic President and stand back for the torrent of rabid outrage and unrestrained hatred.
2
Can we see his taxes AND his pre-nup?
To those who want to begin more Trump-bashing, please remember JFK, RFK and Marilyn Monroe.
4
It's not the sex, it's the cover up and the violation of campaign finance laws etc. that are upsetting so many people.
BTW the fact that JFK etc. behaved badly doesn't mean it's acceptable for other men to behave badly.
4
I can imagine Marilyn would have told the same story. However, I cannot imagine that JFK would have offered to pay her for her services. There is a difference.
4
As I recall, JFK and RFK never ran on a fake family values platform. Civil rights, social reform...those are the topics that come to mind. And maybe we should remember what they gave for their country.
7
Long term relationships with a Porn Star and Playboy models - yet we are to believe he sexually assaulted dozens of women?
You must not have heard Trump's videotaped admission.
5
These are not mutually exclusive. He did both.
5
It's like this, Trump always gets what he wants. If they give it freely, he wins. If they don't, he takes it.
3
The only person who should have beef with this is his wife. We all already know he's a slimy liar. This won't change a thing.
17
What was the point of this "confession?" She signed a NDA, didn't get the jobs she was promised and now wants what, exactly? I don't understand what she's doing and don't care about Trump's seedy sex life. Everything about him is sordid and tawdry, including the fact that he offered this woman cash for sex, paid hush money to a porn star then lied about never having met them. That this seamy, ignorant, vain and vulgar man is president of the United States, still astonishes me, but the fact that his evangelical base still supports him is the most shocking thing of all.
602
" the fact that his evangelical base still supports him is the most shocking thing of all."
How is that shocking? "Evangelicals" have repeatedly been shown to be hypocritical to their "values" and support of the Republican party. There was plenty of outrage over President Bill Clinton's behavior, all the while the then Republican Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, was molesting underage males and "Mr. Outrage and good values" Newt Gingrich was having his own extramarital affair. Not to mention unending support of guns (i.e. instruments to kill...just like Jesus would have wanted).
It's easy to see why their children's generation are far less religious. They've seen an appalling amount of sanctimonious hypocrisy to realize it is all an act of self-appointed "holy folk."
Evangelicals are simply towing the line with the support of the grotesque Trump.
10
The point isn't the sex, it is the hush money that constitutes illegal campaign contributions that violate US federal election laws.
9
Trump's Evangelical base are hypocrites. They only care about a politician's conduct if he or she is a Democrat.
7
I watched about 15 minutes of the interview and found Ms McDougal unfortunately naive and unknowing. She didn't really have much of a moral compass in this and that is very sad.
"Asked about denials Mr. Trump’s representatives have issued about her allegations of an affair, Ms. McDougal said, “I think somebody’s lying, and I can tell you it’s not me.”
I think that this last paragraph says it all. Most sad is that the orange baboon was apparently having affairs with other women at the same time as Ms McDougal.
39
Baboons are bad tempered dominant primates. They are not deceitful though and do not deserve this comparison...
1
I wonder if this kind of manipulation of others is covered in "The Art of the Deal."
Poor, poor Karen. Wronged by the evil man and all she wanted was love; oh and access to his jet, his vast fortune, and all his homes. A woman of let us say, "loose moral character", having an affair with a man devoid of any moral character tends to lead to an unhappy ending.
28
I do not like Donald Trump and am in no way a fan of him or of his actions.
But I do not see any serious difference between his behavior and attitudes towards woman and that of Bill Clinton. Bill Clinton also had numerous affairs while married and cared not a fig for what his wife might have felt.
9
It was an issue then - it's an issue now, particularly when campaign finance may be involved.
3
Clinton was impeached for lying about it. Trump is lying about it. Will he be impeached?
4
I agree. They sex-capades of both men (and JFK) are creepy, incontinent, self-indulgent, and throughly reprehensible. That Democrats did it (and do it) doesn't make it any more excusable, much less right.
2
And yet, he's still in office. Wake me up when he gets his comeuppance.
31
I pray it’s only a short nap. But I’m not counting on it.
A young playboy model and a wealthy 60-something year old man. A 10 month affair. All the money is intended to flow to her, through whatever divisiveness she can come up with. The part where she's sorry to Melina, not for one mistake, but 10 months worth, just plays into it at this point. Sympathy for this victim? Why doesn't the news dig deeper and analyze what she hoped to gain from this affair, or all the media deals now?
4
One aspect you mention that is wrong. Why should she be sorry to Melania? It was Trump who made the move on her. You can't tell me that 10 months of a relationship was all her idea and Trump was the victim.
2
Or how bout the part where the 60yo hound dog is carrying on with multiple partners while the while is having the baby, apparently mistaking some of them for prostitutes and then trying to buy their silence when he is running on the Sanctimony Ticket For the Forgotten Little People- remember that one?? that's the real story, not the women who got picked up by this guy.
5
Let's see: 2006 was the year they're talking about. It was also the year that Barron was born. Babies are being nursed, getting vaccinated and cry a lot. Melania is a devoted mother to her son. Fathers sometimes feel pushed aside or ignored, not the center of attention anymore - at least for awhile. That all this extramarital activity is being aired worldwide is an affront to Melania's privacy and an assault on her personal dignity. Who really cares about Donald Trump anyhow?
3
...and we all know that not being the center of attention is a form of death to Trump.
1
If Melania cared about her son she would keep him far away from Trump.
2
She married trump- already sacrificied personal dignity
2
She has the right lines from the right script. The question is "Why now?"
1
Because of Stormy Daniels. Since the word is out that she had an affair, she does not want to be put into the same boat as a porn star.
2 comments
1. I am sorry, I was a beautiful young woman once (decades ago) but I NEVER dated a married man, and when approached by married men I told them off. Frankly girls get real, once a cheater always a cheater.
Ms. McDougal has no honor.
2. But that doesn’t excuse the creep in the WH. I am so sick of his endless melodrama. I wonder if people are going to go after Ms. Trump like they do Ms. Clinton. I hope not.
16
No. Mrs. Trump does not express political opinions. Probably can’t because of their pre-nup.
So what did this admitted Trump Tramp expect for payment -- a diamond tiara and a personal endorsement of her services on an Atlantic City billboard? Let's focus on Trump's failings as a president, not on his method of compensating bedtime playmates.
6
Trump's failings as a husband and father are reflected in his failings as a president. By now all of America should clearly understand that Trump is a con artist that can't be trusted, but is responsible for our future as a country. Sad, but true.
2
It is not the affair that bothers me, though it leaves one feeling icky. It is the massive hypocrisy by evangelicals, and the lies in ALL CAPS by Trump denying it, and the good ole boys network using their money and power to silence inconvenient women. And it bothers me to no end that this man gets away with everything, and has lived his life trampling on others, never once having to pay the price.
355
They will always give him a pass, because he's saving babies.
1
A previous President was impeached for lying about a single consensual affair. How many more affairs will Trump will lie about before he is impeached?
Zero, because the GOP will not impeach him.
Shame on the leadership of the GOP leadership for continuing to tolerate this narcissistic and fearful man.
471
WHERE is our Democratic leadership?
1
"A previous President was impeached for lying about a single consensual affair" which occurred in the White House during his term of office. Donald Trump has lied about multiple affairs, though they all took place prior to his becoming President.
This distinction may be lost on a lot of people. We only frustrate ourselves, however by expecting a GOP-controlled Congress to impeach a President for private behavior.
Shame does not affect anyone in the GOP.
4
It seems that Republicans & evangelicals abhor extramarital sex unless it's one of their own.
588
Family Values Party Exception #1
8
(Perhaps they enjoy the opportunity to forgive one man dozens of times)
4
... and abortion, and assistance of any kind, and good health care, and ...
2
I thought they always got paid. And where's Gloria Allred? That would complete the scene. Avenatti has raised the bar on slippery and annoying. Can we replace him with Gloria?
3
Trump has normalized slippery and annoying.
It's hard to think of any of these women as victims since they were obviously looking to gain in some way, ignoring the fact that he was recently married with a new child. They knew what they were doing and why they were doing it. Melania married him for his money and that's what she got. Sleeping with a married man while angling for a spot on a reality TV show. What a disgusting slimy shark tank these people live in.
149
This is comical. THE common denominator to dozens of these "hook-ups" is Donald Trump, the married man cheating on his family.
17
It’s revealing that you have so much to share regarding the women, and not a word about Donald Trump(other than referring to him as a “married man”).
9
Who is claiming them to be victims? From what I can tell, they just want what they believe to be the truth about Trump to be told.
4
"in love"? Can a man who expects women to be prostitutes, offering them money after casual sex, and a woman of easy virtue, be "in love"? Either of them?
117
No Jonathan Katz. Neither of them is in love. Trump does not know what the word means. Serial cheater on each wife. And obviously this...."model" who slept with him wasn't doing it for love.
13
She loved him enough to "even consider marrying him" knowing he was already married. Exactly how would that work? Oh, Marla Maples would know.
3
This is getting disgusting. We have so many issues to take care of- imbalanced trade, deficits, crumbling roads and bridges, airports, NK, Iran, Russia, Syria etc etc the country is falling apart and yet we dig through Playboy model’s intimacy patterns on prime time cable. Clearly shows where our priorities are. Sick
38
Agreed, the carnival barker in charge of this circus is sick. Lock him up.
10
Sick indeed, but the political war against Trump would not be complete if sex didn't come into the picture somewhere and the more often the better. Sex has more leverage than money for the media. It is too bad Anderson Cooper doesn't stick to 60 Minutes segments.
1
It is disgusting. And, the person at the center of it all is the guy that got voted in to handle all of the problems that you call attention to.
1
I have one simple question to all those evangelical Christians who voted for Trump, you knew this man was against all Christian values that you believe in and go to church every Sunday.
Where are your values and beliefs to bypass to vote this cheater to put him in the WH?
We knew about Trump - but you have proven yourselves that you are the mother of HYPOCRISY. SHAME, SHAME, ...
291
I would say to those specific evangelicals, that in the Holy Bible, even God's beloved King David had to suffer the consequences for his sins, even as God forgave him. Forgiveness does not mean "no consequences". I think they hide behind "forgive the sinner" so they can advance their agenda. How about "forgive the sinner", but prevent him from having any sort of leadership role? Prevent him from having a spotlight? They are willfully blinded by their pride and ambition. In bed with the devil.
2
Evangelicals are practicing "Forgiveness".
They forget however that forgiveness is only granted to those who are repentant.
Trump: Repentant??? What's that?
1
Evangelical Christians do not appear in this story. Neither Trump nor McDougal claim to be Evangelical Christians. Adding religious bias to the story is as dishonest as adding Evangelical Christians.
There was a time when parties of an affair might exercise discretion in general, a passing tryst. These days it seems it ends up on Twitter at the first possible chance, with the revealing parties looking to get something more than they could from the brief affair. Fame, attention, more payouts, book deals, scorn?
8
Multiple partners at a time for years of cheating isnt really a "tryst".
It is Trump's MO.
2
It is important for the presidential library, otherwise he has been outdone by his base.
3
I married a woman for whom falling in love with a philanderer would have been a non-starter and nothing short of "Goodbye...forever" would have been a suitable rejoinder to an offer of money after sex. Twenty-eight years and two children later people like McDougal and Trump make me feel all the better for it.
15
I don't understand why this is even news. We elected a president who thinks it's his right as a "celebrity" to grab women by their genitals. His affair with McDougal sounds down right respectable! Who am I to judge when even the Evangelicals and Mike Pence have forgiven him?
As for McDougal, I have no sympathy. She engaged in a year-long affair with a married man, sold him out by selling her story to the tabloids, then tried to break a legal contract for which she took money, and then, while the lawsuit is ongoing, decided to tell her story anyway. And we are supposed to feel outraged on her behalf because Trump tried to pay her after their first intercourse?
66
It isn't as though Trump goes after women who are outstanding for their self respect.
8
Why is it even news? Because if we ignore it and wave it off, it's just another norm of decent and civilized behavior that we have given Trump a pass on. We'll all be like Melania (and Don, Jr., Ivanka, and Eric) saying that it is just "boy talk,"
or locker room behavior. What is even more important are the other issues Republicans give Trump a passion: no tax returns as promised, no "bill of love" for DACA, no significant, meaningful gun control legislation (back in the arms of the NRA), no truth in the Nunes/Trump memo, no Republican judgment against shutting down the House Intelligence "investigation" of Trump and Russia, no reprimands for falsely accusing Obama of treasonous surveillance , no nothing. If we give this a pass, Trump is more emboldened, more off the chain, and that much closer to being our dictator. If we continue to give Trump a pass on any breach of morals behavior, we are enabling him to take down our democracy, our republic.
2
Trump is the one who gave us this spectacle, to the everlasting shame of the Republic.
Look how far we've come, how low we've sunk. And can you imagine McConnell and Ryan and all the rest being quiet if this was about Obama?
587
They'd be after him like fox hounds after the fox; like a pack of wolves bringing down a wounded elk. ( Not to insult fox hounds or wolves).
4
What we have here is a President with the morals and ethics of a Berlusconi and his finger on a nuclear weapon. Not a good combination.
254
And the emotional stability & empathy of Charles Manson and Ted Bundy rolled into one.
We are in deep trouble.
5
This reminds me of that old Carol Burnett skit, "As the Stomach Turns." The Trump iteration just gets better and better.
She's not 'that kind'. What should it tell you when someone tries to slip you some cash after a quickie?
98
Impulsivity, infidelity, thrill-seeking behavior, callous disregard towards women, lying about irrelevant issues, extremely poor inter-personal skills at the highest level of leadership does not bode well for America. He has a knack to recognize beautiful women but falls short on recognizing who will be good leaders in his cabinet and elsewhere in the system.
Moreover, admiring Putin, failing to criticize Russia for their role in anti-US activities, and generously criticizing Bush, Clintons and Obama are classic examples of poor judgment.
Mr Trump comes from a rather corrupt, self-serving, self-centered background with others-may-be-damned attitude and philosophy. Thus, he cannot see any fault in how Kushner is exploiting his power to prevent his company going bankrupt. This is not putting "America First". The writing on the wall is clear "Trump First". Patriots do not act like he is acting. Conservatives do not behave like he is. There are no family values here. None whatsoever. Heck, he is not even a great dealmaker.
You cannot clear the swamp if your survival is only possible in swamp. We have a phony president. However, he poses a real danger to America.
148
As long as he doesn't start a disastrous conflict with either North Korea or Iran, I am for letting this play out. His totally disgusting life is being splayed open for all to see. Like a giant bag of candy, after eating it for awhile, you become sick to your stomach and need to vomit it all up. Your guilt is gone and you swear off candy, at least for awhile. That's what will happen to the GOP. They will end up being swept out of office by the millenials. The only problem will be keeping a lid on the left wing of the Democratic Party. We cannot swing back and forth like a pendulum or, like the pendulum, we will eventually lose energy and become quiescent. Then our democracy will be gone.
And it's pretty clear that Trump never speaks against Putin's atrocities because the Putin Kremlin is the source of Trump's wealth. Trump will be bankrupt again if he doesn't serve Putin. So Russia he CARES about. The United States—not so much.
1
Follow fivethirtyeight.com throughout the day; six two and even Mr. Tangerine Man's favorable rating will rise a notch or two
Let me see if I understand this correctly. Trump says he never was involved with the women who have come forward, yet he signs non-disclosure agreements with them (Stormy Daniels) or has stories about their relationship buried (Karen McDougal).
Instead of asking him whether he was involved with these women (the answer seems obvious), we should be asking why he is fighting to prevent disclosure of things that "never happened." No one pays $130,000 to a porn star they "don't know well."
What's left to discuss?
379
Good or bad. US Consititution (with all its faults), the US government, Office of POTUS are the reason why we moved here. We believed in the incredible moral compass by which the vast majority of people in these institutions lived and worked every day to uphold.
Now we are no more than any other misguided autocracy that US says it is not.
I have been depressed over the last few months and failed to pinpoint the cause. I have good kids, good wife, decent job. Yet this nagging pain does not go away. I just cannot accept that this kind of failure would cause me this much pain.
184
@LTF..... The depression you are experiencing is the discomfort one experiences when awakening from the illusion that those things you cherished were only true in part, or not at all.
That most (white) Americans are dreamers in this sense is what depresses me.
4
I'm not sure from whence you came, but at least you don't risk torture or jail for saying the things you just said. Were you here in the days when our President had an affair with a young intern while he was President, and not 12 years before? Were you here when he lied under oath, was impeached, got disbarred, and embarrassed everyone but his faithful, loving wife? Now, those were the days!
I am sorry for your depression. I feel it, too, and I was born and raised here. Trump gained the presidency despite the fact that 54% of American voters cast their ballots for someone else. Hillary beat him by about 3 million votes, 48% to his 45%. I believe we can eventually move beyond this pathetic leadership situation, but I think we will approach hell first.
1
If McDougal failed to notice a certain inequality in the sexual appeal between herself and Donald Trump (which might involve a monetary payment to adjust the scales) she needs glasses. These types of liaisons always involve a quid pro quo beyond love and affection. Who is she kidding?
31
The respect, admiration, and potential-to-inspire were well deserved attributes of those who hold the office of POTUS, but not today. Others have damaged the office certainly, however as of ca. 12 months ago, the role has been damaged severely and it will take decades to recover. So sad.
10
Could we ask djt if there has ever been the the use of any Birth Control devices in his dalliances? Or perhaps an abortion - or two? We know that he is morally opposed to Birth Control and Abortion, so how is he so lucky as to not have spawned any little tiny-handed people? Asking for a friend.
180
Hey Ben - Maureen Dowd asked Trump how many abortions he had financed during one of their pillow-talks during the campaign. His response? "Next question." And of course Ms. Dowd went on to the next question.
3
Trump is not morally opposed to anything.
He is certainly not morally opposed to abortion (or at least he didn't used to be until it became politically inconvenient).
How can a self-proclaimed germophobe not wear a condom? It's baffling.
Who wants to bet his NDA's require an abortion in the event of pregnancy (assuming they were entered while he was still cheating on his wife)?
2
Seriously though,...
1
She fell in love with him? I really can't imagine that. In my eyes, her credibility dropped with that statement. But then I guess love has different meanings to different people. If she equates it to deception, immoral behavior, lack of empathy and a huge, arrogant ego then yes, I guess she was.
28
I have no idea why a beautiful woman like McDougal ever wanted to get involved with Trump, except for some hope of big money/fame. Did she imagine he'd dump Melania for her? I bet she did, and was disappointed when she realized she was just a side affair to be kept secret. It's a very old and tired tale. McDougal says she was hurt when he offered her cash, because she was "not that kind of girl," but she was more than willing to take $150,000 cash from the National Enquirer to dish about all of it. She says she had feelings for him? What a joke. What is really sad is that our society cannot progress past this shallow rut where women are judged and valued mainly for their looks and youth, and men for their money and power.
119
The fact that there's no scrutiny of these women says a lot about the media. The women who accused Bill Clinton of sexual improprieties were scrutinized relentlessly.
12
I guess the Access Hollywood Tape has given us all scrutiny we require. He said all himself in his own high pitched voice.
7
They were in love.
10
Donald you should ***love*** this!!!! All these women made deals with you (NDAs, Marriage, Prenups etc.).
Now they just want to come back and renegotiate more favorable terms or tear them up.
It’s like NAFTA or your debts and business deals. But this time with models, porn stars, and Playboy bunnies as you; and you as the creditor. :D
259
Ms. McDougal said Mr. Trump had compared her, favorably, to his daughter. “He said I was beautiful like her and, ‘You’re a smart girl,’” she said.
Too gross for words...
415
Classic Trump! Sublimation... at its most!!!
10
Then again .... one wonders!
8
He told Stormy Daniels the same thing.
Wins the prize for most freudian pick up line.
10
something something Hilary Clinton
something something Obama
This is all I expect to hear from anyone from Trump's base who hear these allegations - if it even makes it onto their Fox Entertainment ("news") radar.
81
I watched part of the interview and thought she was saying so many nice things about Trump so he wouldn't deny her story....
6
McDougal is a Trump supporter, and told Anderson Cooper she voted for Trump. Guess the incident(s) with Trump weren't enough to helping elevate Trump and debase the nation.
3
How much did he offer?
5
My God, I can't imagine a sum that would induce any sane woman...
26
Why is this news? We all know Trump cheated on his wife extensively. What are these "revelations" supposed to achieve?
6
It's time that "more revelations" by women (whatever the controversy and circumstances) are not dismissed as just "more revelations." Why? Because "more revelations" tend to encourage other women to speak out.
Don't assume that other women, still silent, have nothing to add the to discussion, especially if the man at the center is a politician who says he is against abortion. More than one politician has been found to have done privately what he opposes in public.
6
It's news because the president and White House unequivocally deny that it happened and may have used campaign funds to kill it. That makes it news. I didn't need to hear the lurid details in a too-long interview, that's for sure. But the denial and possible misappropriation of campaign funds make it news. Ditto the Stormy story.
47
Would it surprise anyone if it turns out that this woman received payment from Trumps sphere of influence, to appear on TV prior to the Stormy Daniels 60 Minutes interview, with the intent of watering down the Daniels impact?
101
You have not been paying attention. She is not the only one!
1
Nothing that trump (or his minions or trolls) does or says could surprise me at this point.
1
This doesn't water it down, it builds on the reality of how gross Trump is when it comes to women. I say, interview them all on TV.
23