There is nothing wrong with your Internet connection. Do not attempt to adjust the Wi-Fi settings. This isn’t an episode of The Outer Limits or The Twilight Zone, nor is it a cruel April Fools’ Day prank being perpetrated by the White House. President Donald Trump, the very man who infamously suggested to former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush men in their position could simply approach any woman and “grab them by the p*ssy,” declared April to be National Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Days after declaring his status as president made him immune to a defamation lawsuit levied against him by an ex-Apprentice star (who accused him of groping her), Trump issued a statement late Friday afternoon via Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s office. In it, he proclaimed, “Women, children and men have inherent dignity that should never be violated”:
I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, by the virtue of the authority invested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2017 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I urge all Americans, families, law enforcement, healthcare providers, community and faith-based organizations, and private organizations to support survivors of sexual assault and work together to prevent these crimes in their communities.
The full statement, which was emailed to members of the press, is available to read in full below:
President Trump: April is "National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month" pic.twitter.com/TNgmGqACTH
— Allan Smith (@akarl_smith) March 31, 2017
As are the countless reactions from reporters, Trump critics, and Twitter trolls alike across social media. If you or anyone you love thinks they hear the universe laughing and crying simultaneously this evening, this is probably why:
Sexual Assault Awareness Month begins tomorrow. Our current president has been accused of sexually assaulting 16 women. My heart is broken.
— Alanna Vagianos (@AlannaVagianos) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/timothypmurphy/status/847908400365277184
https://twitter.com/hahellyer/status/847915574986518528
https://twitter.com/eiffeltyler/status/847914957064863744
Trump: I am so excited to celebrate National Sexual Assault Month
Spicer: uh, Awareness and Prevention Mr. President
Trump: Oh— Sarah Cooper (@sarahcpr) March 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/elisefoley/status/847909225334534146
Grab Em By The Pussy Month will be in May. https://t.co/P6mYxPk7dI
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 31, 2017
Trump declaring National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is like Nickelback declaring Music Appreciation Month. https://t.co/9cXEbsYFBu
— Alex Wright (@wrightontheleft) March 31, 2017
Worst April Fools joke I've ever heard. https://t.co/0P2H2LzRhs
— Chris Jackson (@ChrisCJackson) March 31, 2017
Trump calling April “National Sexual Assault and Prevention Month” is bad enough, but Spicer’s office couldn’t help releasing additional statements soon after regarding April’s new declarations:
https://twitter.com/bendreyfuss/status/847908690015510530
https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/847913451523624960
Friday’s sexual assault-themed news dump also afforded Twitter the opportunity to rehash more of Trump’s greatest hits, like this 2013 tweet regarding reported sexual assaults in the U.S. military:
26,000 unreported sexual assults in the military-only 238 convictions. What did these geniuses expect when they put men & women together?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2013