Kirsten Gillibrand has seen her profile as a 2020 presidential contender rise after she called for President Trump to resign and was attacked on Twitter by him.
Kirsten Gillibrand.
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has seen her profile as a contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination rise after she called for President Donald Trump to resign over sexual misconduct accusations and was attacked by Trump on Twitter in response.
Gillibrand, who has served in the Senate since 2009, has had her name floated as a possible candidate since last November. She has not indicated whether she is interested in running, telling New York Magazine in April, “I am running for the Senate in 2018.”
The betting markets for the 2020 Democratic nominee responded to Gillibrand’s high profile exchange with the president on Tuesday. She gained 3 cents, which is akin to percentage points, in a significant move up, according to PredictIt. Gillibrand trails fellow Senators Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders, who are both at 17 cents.
On Monday, Gillibrand told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that Trump should step down over allegations of sexual assault. At least 16 women have accused Trump of sexual assault or harassment.
“These allegations are credible; they are numerous,” Gillibrand told CNN. “I’ve heard these women’s testimony, and many of them are heartbreaking.” She added that if Trump does not resign, Congress should investigate the accusations.
President Trump should resign. But, of course, he won’t hold himself accountable. Therefore, Congress should investigate the multiple sexual harassment and assault allegations against him.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 11,2017
Trump lashed out at the New York senator Tuesday morning, tweeting, “Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office ‘begging’ for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!”
Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12,2017
Gillibrand responded on Twitter, “You cannot silence me or the millions of women who have gotten off the sidelines to speak out about the unfitness and shame you have brought to the Oval Office.”
She added at a news conference, “It was a sexist smear attempting to silence my voice, and I will not be silenced on this issue.”
Another top contender who has sparred with Trump on Twitter and in public statements, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, is also at 14 cents in the betting markets. She came to Gillibrand’s defense on Tuesday, tweeting, “Are you really trying to bully, intimidate and slut-shame @SenGillibrand? Do you know who you’re picking a fight with? Good luck with that, @realDonaldTrump. Nevertheless, #shepersisted.”
Are you really trying to bully, intimidate and slut-shame @SenGillibrand? Do you know who you’re picking a fight with? Good luck with that, @realDonaldTrump. Nevertheless, #shepersisted. https://t.co/mYJtBZfxiu
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 12,2017
Other Democrats also defended Gillibrand.
Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow New Yorker who was mentioned in Trump’s tweet, said on Twitter, “The President’s tweet today was nasty & unbecoming of a president. @SenGillibrand is an outstanding member of the Senate, & @realDonaldTrump needs to cut it out with the tweeting, period. He should stop tweeting & start leading.”
Rep. Jackie Speier, of California, told NBC News, “It is grotesque. It took my breath away. And it represents the conduct of a person who is ill-equipped to be the president of the United States.”
Senator Mazie Hirono said, “He’s a misogynist and admitted sexual predator and a liar. The only thing that will stop him from attacking us, because nobody is safe, is his resignation.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand sits with Rep. John Lewis.
Other Democrats and political analysts pointed out on social media that Trump was bringing attention to a possible opponent.
Former Obama speech writer and Crooked Media co-founder Jon Favreau, claimed victory in the Twitter feud for Gillibrand.
Trump has lost his touch. If that’s the best he can do on Gillibrand, she’ll be in good shape for 2020.
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) December 12,2017
Liberal commentator Sally Cohn tweeted, “Silly @realDonaldTrump, setting up @SenGillibrand to be even more well-known and well-liked when she runs against him in 2020… G’head Donald, keep attacking your opponents as though you think it hurts them.”
Here are some of the other Twitter reactions:
So do Trump’s tweets today count as an in-kind contribution to the Kirsten Gillibrand 2020 campaign or is the FEC treatment more complicated than that? https://t.co/x4PYIZx5k3
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 12,2017
Donald Trump thinks he’s discrediting Kirsten Gillibrand. In reality, he’s building up a credible 2020 candidate. Please pick fights with Amy Klobuchar, Cory Booker, Julian Castro, Kamala Harris, etc. next. Trump’s historic unpopularity will launch a robust 2020 Dem Primary crop.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) December 12,2017
Could that Trump tweet have gone better for Kirsten Gillibrand’s 2020 aspirations?
— Joel Wertheimer (@Wertwhile) December 12,2017
I’ve thought for a while that Gillibrand might be the Dems best candidate in 2020. She just got a huge boost today – and it’s because she’s been one of the most assertive and politically savvy Senate Democrats in 2017
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) December 12,2017
Gillibrand also caught the eye of the GOP, which put out an opposition research briefing on her Tuesday, according to NPR’s Domenico Montanaro.
And the @GOP takes up the fight now against @SenGillibrand pic.twitter.com/E3Keir6orl
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) December 12,2017
In the briefing, Republicans highlighted another aspect of Trump’s tweet, in which he said she was “very disloyal” to Bill Clinton. Gillibrand told the New York Times in November that she now thinks it would have been the “appropriate response” for Clinton to step down nearly 20 years ago.
“Things have changed today, and I think under those circumstances there should be a very different reaction,” Gillibrand told the Times. “And I think in light of this conversation, we should have a very different conversation about President Trump, and a very different conversation about allegations against him.”
A Democratic strategist told The Hill, “All this reeks of is political opportunism and that’s what defines Kirsten Gillibrand’s career. Why wasn’t she talking about Bill Clinton when he was helping her during her various races for the House and Senate? And would she be talking about Bill Clinton today if Hillary Clinton was president? I think we all know the answer.”
She was also attacked by longtime Clinton aide Phillipe Reines on Twitter, who wrote, “Ken Starr spent $70 million on a consensual blowjob.
