The current president of the United States has a habit of trash-talking people he doesn’t like. He seems to have a particular antipathy towards women who criticize him. On the eve of a trip to the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, Donald Trump — fresh off blurting out that he was only elected thanks to Russian interference — sat down with the British newspaper The Sun, in which he decided to call Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, “nasty.”
The slur came when the reporter brought up the fact that Markle declined to meet with him. In the past, Markle — a native of Los Angeles — has called him a “misogynist.” In 2016, she told Larry Wilmore on The Nightly Show that she would move to Canada if he won the presidency. Instead she became British royalty.
Trump responded to this by saying, “I didn’t know that she was nasty.” He then seemed to offer an olive branch, adding, “I am sure she will go excellently [as a royal]. She will be very good.” (It’s not clear what this means, as Markle’s been a royal for over a year.)
Social media was not happy with this. Some pointed out that Trump simply proved Markle’s point.
Trump calling Duchess Meghan Markle "nasty" for calling him a misogynist just completely proved her point.
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) June 1, 2019
Others reminded the world that Trump has a history of saying skeezy things about female royalty.
Trump called Meghan Markle “nasty” right before his upcoming travel to the UK. This coming from the same disgusting dude who also said he “could have” had sex with Princess Diana, only if she passed an HIV test. This was only months after she died. Trump is a gross disgrace.
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) June 1, 2019
Others were not surprised Donald Trump doesn’t like her.
Of course Trump doesn't like #MeghanMarkle.
She built her own career, has a mind of her own and her mother is black.
For all sorts of reasons, this would be a good time for the British people and media to show the Duchess of Sussex our support.https://t.co/dZQHigKAlS #Trump— David Jones (@whynotgoglobal) June 1, 2019
Some reminded us that he only uses “nasty” to describe women.
https://twitter.com/SantaInc/status/1134803130929913859
Even the NBC social media feed seemed to be trolling with a dry wit.
Ahead of his UK visit this coming week, President Trump describes Meghan Markle as "nasty," and wishes her well. https://t.co/pqTCaEWgzT
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 1, 2019
As Trump’s latest comments blew up, the White House tried to put out the fire.
Fake News CNN is at it again, falsely claiming President Trump called Meghan Markle "nasty." Here is what he actually said. Listen for yourself! pic.twitter.com/kLuPXBLMhf
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 1, 2019
Problem is: The audio that allegedly exonerates Trump includes him calling her “nasty,” as though they were hoping no one would actually listen to the evidence they presented.
“No I didn’t know that she was nasty,” POTUS says about Meghan Markle in the clip after the interviewer told him that in 2016 she’d threatened to leave the US if he was elected. https://t.co/ufduNAppCr
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 1, 2019
Hard to imagine a more explicit example of gaslighting than this.
Trump's "war room" tweets audio of Trump saying Markle was nasty, with subtitles showing he said she was nasty, while denying that he said she was nasty.
For the love of god. pic.twitter.com/xq1kIhF3Tb
— Avi Bueno (@Avi_Bueno) June 1, 2019
They insist Trump never called Markle “nasty” and the proof is audio — and their own subtitles — showing he called her “nasty.” pic.twitter.com/X3ISM8XzA5
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) June 1, 2019
https://twitter.com/BettyBowers/status/1134827598272499712
Of course, Trump calling the Duchess of Sussex “nasty” before a trip to the United Kingdom wasn’t the most offensive thing he said. That would be supporting Brexit champion Boris Johnson.
The Meghan Markle comment is offensive. But the support for Boris is worse. https://t.co/hSWHiiYxfu
— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) June 1, 2019