Speaking at a rally in Southaven, Mississippi, President Donald Trump launched into a tirade denigrating Ford, one of the women who have accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault. He parodied her testimony at the Senate hearing, saying:
“I had one beer.” Well do you think it was… “Nope. It was one beer.” Oh good. How did you get home? “I don’t remember.” How did you get there? “I don’t remember.” Where is the place? “I don’t remember.” How many years ago was it? “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.” What neighborhood was it in? “I don’t know.” Where’s the house? “I don’t know. Upstairs. Downstairs. I don’t know. But I had one beer that’s the only thing I remember.”
Trump concluded by lamenting that “a man’s life is in tatters. A man’s life is shattered.” Trump went on to call Democrats who opposed Kavanaugh “evil people.”
BREAKING: President Trump mocks Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, during a rally in Mississippi. https://t.co/yjrqDceYv6 pic.twitter.com/iv22aHRwhn
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 3, 2018
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted that the “restrained” Trump we’ve seen since Ford’s allegations came to light is no more.
Trump Restrained lasted until today, save for a few tweets that McConnell and WH aides didn’t like. It ended about 30 minutes ago on a stage in MS, where he openly mocked Ford, to cheers.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 3, 2018
Unrestrained Trump is likely to shape the midterm elections, especially if the president decides to make the Kavanaugh fight central to his efforts to rile up the Republican base.