https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1113862077842640898/video/1
In asurreal tweet on Thursday, PresidentDonald Trumpmocked former Vice PresidentJoe Bidenafter several women came forward to say thatBiden had behaved inappropriately around themover the years, invading their personal space and touching them in ways that left them feeling uncomfortable.
The president on Thursday released a short clip from a longer video that Bidenhad posted on Wednesdayin response to the controversy over his behavior.
Trump captioned the post, “WELCOME BACK JOE!”
“I see that you are on the job and presidential, as always,” Bidenlater replied to himon Twitter.
Approximately a half-dozen womenhave come forward in the mediain recent days to say that Biden’s past interactions with them have been uncomfortable and boundary-crossing, with behavior that included back caresses and surprising forehead touches.
Speakingwith theWashington Post, one woman said, “I do not consider my experience to have been sexual assault or harassment.” Still, she said, “It was the kind of inappropriate behavior that makes many women feel uncomfortable and unequal in the workplace.”
The first woman to speak out, a Nevada lawmaker named Lucy Flores,said last weekthat Biden touched her shoulders and kissed the back of her head without consent during an event in 2014.
On Wednesday Bidenreleased a video acknowledging the discomfort he caused. (Biden’s reps have not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment; a spokesman declined to comment to thePoston specific women’s stories, instead referring to his video.)
“Today, I want to talk about gestures of support and encouragement I’ve made to women and some men that have made them uncomfortable,” he said.
Neil Rasmus/BFA/Shutterstock
Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock
RELATED VIDEO: Story Behind the Story — PEOPLE Reporter Speaks Out on Trump Sexual Assault
“I worked my whole life to empower women,” he said. “So the idea that I can’t adjust to the fact that personal space is important, more important than it’s ever been, is just not thinkable. I will.”
Biden also tweeted: “Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it.”
Trump’s mockery of Biden brings into relief the differences between the allegations against them: Former PEOPLE reporterNatasha Stoynoffsaid Trump forcibly kissed her during a 2005 interview. “Within seconds he was pushing me against the wall and forcing his tongue down my throat,” she recalled in 2016.
Summer Zervos, who is suing Trump for defamation, said he kissed and groped her without consent in 2007.Alva Johnson, a former Trump campaign staffer, said he forcibly kissed her in 2016. Various other womenhave accused Trump of groping them.
Trump has vigorously denied the sexual misconduct allegations.
He notoriously bragged about touching women without permission during a 2005 segment onAccess Hollywood, audio of which was leaked to thePostbefore the 2016 election.
source: people.com
