Donald Trump singling out Catriona Perry in the call to Varadker

Neyite

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/she-has-a-nice-smile-trump-singles-out-rt%C3%A9-s-caitriona-perry-1.3136445

“Where are you from , come here, come here, where are you from?” the president said gesturing to Perry to come over to his desk. “We have all of this beautiful Irish press, where are you from?” he asked the reporter again.
After telling the president who she was and which news outlet she represented, Mr Trump told Mr Varadkar: “Caitriona Perry, she has a nice smile on her face, so I bet she treats you well”, as Perry retreated back to the press corps. She later described the incident on Twitter as a “bizarre moment”

It was bizarre, wasn't it?

I saw lots of comments on Facebook from both men and women saying that it was just a compliment and to get a grip. I see it as no different to the kind of 'compliments' women get subjected to on the street when catcalled.

I'm not sure if Trump needed to stomp heterosexually all over the phone call to a gay Taoiseach, or if he just sizes up all women around him in terms of their attractiveness on a continual basis but it looked like an incredibly awkward and cringey encounter for her, especially given the workplace and their respective roles.

Madam Oblong

He's a letch and she's just his type. This is a man who admitted to walking in on beauty pageant contestants changing because he could. Bleugh

Neyite

You just feel that he cant put aside the lechery for a second.

robyntmorton

As was pointed out elsewhere, imagine doing that to Charlie Bird...

Yeah, wouldn't happen!

Such horrible, creepy carry on from the "president"

RacoonQueen

I doubt he knows Varadkar is gay? Assume it's only in Ireland where this is common knowledge.

Madam Oblong

RacoonQueen wrote: »

I doubt he knows Varadkar is gay? Assume it's only in Ireland where this is common knowledge.

All of the international press has been "Ireland Elects Gay PM, So Woke, Yaaaas Queen" and ignores his right wing tendencies

Cutie 3.14

It came across to me as a sh!tty attempt at 'banter'

spoonerhead

He could've left it at "she has a beautiful smile", the next few sentences made me cringe beyond belief. Almost as pathetic an attempt at banter since the entire Richard Keys sky sports issue

Cassie.B

Trump is a Lecher, and he obviously knows Leo is as gay as they come and his advisors would have informed him of that fact, this was a gentle tease on trumps part. That is how he reacts to situations.

Wanderer78

Predator, slimy human being

Ah come on now. He's a bit of an eejit but that was hardly predatory or creepy. If Obama passed that comment there wouldn't be a thing made of it.

sassyj

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah come on now. He's a bit of an eejit but that was hardly predatory or creepy. If Obama passed that comment there wouldn't be a thing made of it.

Obsma wouldn't have done it, not a chance. It was creepy.

Mars Bar

mod

Lawred2,

Don't post in this thread again.

lawred2

can't even remember what I posted

it was probably awesome

Neyite

sassyj wrote: »

Obsma wouldn't have done it, not a chance. It was creepy.

I agree. Trump never would have called over a man. Or if he did single out a man, the conversation would be likely to be about where the reporter came from in Ireland. Not that he had a nice smile or that he along with all his colleagues are handsome.

She was singled out because Trump thought she was beautiful. Not because of her track record as a journalist, or her professionalism. At best it was infantising - like the way you'd call a toddler in to the visitors in the sitting room so they can ooh and ahh over how cute she is before sending her back out to play.

I cant imagine how that would be acceptable in a modern workplace - to be called into the boardroom along with your colleagues and be singled out soley because some old letch thinks you are hot. Ew.

It's inappropriate given the setting, and given the situation. He was supposed to be talking to our Taoiseach, but he couldn't even manage that without sizing up all the women in the room and singling out his type. If I were her I'd be scrubbing myself with a nailbrush making a salon appointment to get black short hair or something - anything - so as not to be Trump's 'type' any more.

vicwatson

He gave her a compliment. Story over. Yeh he's a creep but can we not see it's simply a compliment, and yes, she does have a nice smile, if it was Obama he'd be called a charming man for saying it

Neyite

Neyite wrote: »

I agree. Trump never would have called over a man. Or if he did single out a man, the conversation would be likely to be about where the reporter came from in Ireland. Not that he had a nice smile or that he along with all his colleagues are handsome.

She was singled out because Trump thought she was beautiful. Not because of her track record as a journalist, or her professionalism. At best it was infantising - like the way you'd call a toddler in to the visitors in the sitting room so they can ooh and ahh over how cute she is before sending her back out to play.

I cant imagine how that would be acceptable in a modern workplace - to be called into the boardroom along with your colleagues and be singled out soley because some old letch thinks you are hot. Ew.

It's inappropriate given the setting, and given the situation. He was supposed to be talking to our Taoiseach, but he couldn't even manage that without sizing up all the women in the room and singling out his type. If I were her I'd be scrubbing myself with a nailbrush making a salon appointment to get black short hair or something - anything - so as not to be Trump's 'type' any more.

Infantising?!

I'm not a fan of Trump. His interactions with other people aren't always the most polite. But I do think there is an awful lot being made about this. He drew attention to Catriona Perry, told her she had a nice smile. It's ok. The world isn't going to implode in a torrent of misogyny.

Neyite

Deleted User wrote: »

Infantising?!

I'm not a fan of Trump. His interactions with other people aren't always the most polite. But I do think there is an awful lot being made about this. He drew attention to Catriona Perry, told her she had a nice smile. It's ok. The world isn't going to implode in a torrent of misogyny.

So you'd be ok with your male boss calling you into his office while he's with an important client to show him you are beautiful and that you have a nice smile? You wouldn't think that he's treating you in a way that he would never treat your male colleague? That he sees you as decorative rather than as a professional?

I wouldn't like that at all, and thankfully my employers are a lot more professional than that. I've had compliments from my colleagues, but from a boss in a meeting unless it's about my work, it's cringey.

Neyite

Neyite wrote: »

So you'd be ok with your male boss calling you into his office while he's with an important client to show him you are beautiful and that you have a nice smile? You wouldn't think that he's treating you in a way that he would never treat your male colleague? That he sees you as decorative rather than as a professional?

I wouldn't like that at all, and thankfully my employers are a lot more professional than that. I've had compliments from my colleagues, but from a boss in a meeting unless it's about my work, it's cringey.

I'm not sure to be honest. Maybe I'd compliment him back

Neyite

Maybe it depends on the workplace. :P

Ours would be quite formal in that regard - there is a bit of banter between us, but we know each other through working with each other, and noticing someone's new hair do or nice jacket is fine. We've all done it - "did you get your hair done? It's really nice" or "I like your jacket, where did you get it?" But I don't think I'd spontaneously say to a male colleague that he has a lovely smile, or single him out in a meeting room in the middle of a meeting to say it - I'd come across as a bit of an eejit I think. Can you imagine?

"Well as you can see from client feedback on our project, the costs over-run were a concern in the last quarter... Darren, hey, Darren. Yep. You. Come up here you beautiful person you. Guys, doesn't he look beautiful? He has a lovely smile, doesn't he? I bet Darren looks after you well eh?... now, where was I? Oh yes, from the last quarter the client..."

Bambi985

Don't really get all the fuss with this tbh. I'm sure Caitriona has dealt with a lot worse and it seems to have raised her international profile, I doubt she's sitting at home crying. She described it herself as "bizarre" and I'd say that's exactly what it was. A bit over-friendly, a bit strange, but we've seen a lot worse from Trump.

tailgunner

Bambi985 wrote: »

A bit over-friendly, a bit strange, but we've seen a lot worse from Trump.

We have. But if we dismiss this kind of thing, as if it's not a big deal, it's easier for him to get away with the more serious stuff.

If I pulled something like that in work, I'd be landed in front of HR, and rightly so.

Bambi985

tailgunner wrote: »

We have. But if we dismiss this kind of thing, as if it's not a big deal, it's easier for him to get away with the more serious stuff.

If I pulled something like that in work, I'd be landed in front of HR, and rightly so.

He's already getting away with the more serious stuff!! Seriously the guy is a buffoon, but he is alas the president of the United States. There comes a point where the media outrage against him turns into a catalogue of whining journalists who know their whining will amount to millions of facebook hits and accomplishes little more than that.

Personally his uncomfortably close relationship with Russia and his dangerous dismissal of climate change are far more offensive to me than him telling a female journalist who is more than capable and able to handle herself that she has a beautiful smile.

Madam Oblong

Imagine a woman or gay bloke did that to a male journalist. Now can you see now unprofessional it is?

kylith

A) If you wouldn't say it to a man you shouldn't say it to a woman.
If you have to say 'It was a compliment', it wasn't.
c) If you have to tell someone to learn how to take a compliment then you need to learn how to give one.

I don't think this should go unremarked just because he's done and is capable of worse. Where's the logic in that?

If a woman in a position of power called a man into her office while taking an important call, gave him a creepy compliment and suggested he's good to his PM, you can bet your life it'd be pulled up as an example of double standards - rightly. This was the President, at work, in the White House, and the woman was a journalist working there. It wasn't a bar, or a private party or an informal situation.

I do love how he does all this unprofessional and inappropriate stuff, she calls it bizarre on social media (and lets face it, it is), and now SHE'S portrayed as the one with the problem!

As said above, it's not something he'd say to a man and that's a pretty good yardstick when it comes to whether or not you should say it to a woman.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Sure what would you expect from a pig but a grunt.

God knows what was going through his head, whether he was trying to cover up losing his train of thought, pre-emptively deflecting from something else or just genuinely got distracted by a pretty woman while actively engaged in an international act of diplomacy... it's just really not great.

And Obama got crucified for calling someone sweetie didn't he? I'm sure if he'd been turning the Whitehouse into a reality TV shít show for months beforehand and timed the gaffe so it built on the momentum of a pre-existing international news story it would have been as big.

Obama got crucified for just taking his jacket off in the Oval Office!

I love how Catriona Perry scuttles away from Trump in the clip I saw - getting out of pussy-grabbing range!

PistolsAtDawn

Neyite wrote: »

You wouldn't think that he's treating you in a way that he would never treat your male colleague? That he sees you as decorative rather than professional

Maybe he saw her a "decorative" and professional.

Personally i'd rather be considered decorative than ugly, regardless of who is paying the complement.

PistolsAtDawn

Candie wrote: »

I don't think this should go unremarked just because he's done and is capable of worse. Where's the logic in that?

If a woman in a position of power called a man into her office while taking an important call, gave him a creepy compliment and suggested he's good to his PM, you can bet your life it'd be pulled up as an example of double standards - rightly. This was the President, at work, in the White House, and the woman was a journalist working there. It wasn't a bar, or a private party or an informal situation.

I do love how he does all this unprofessional and inappropriate stuff, she calls it bizarre on social media (and lets face it, it is), and now SHE'S portrayed as the one with the problem!

As said above, it's not something he'd say to a man and that's a pretty good yardstick when it comes to whether or not you should say it to a woman.

Trump is straight though, if he was gay and paid a male member of the press corps the same complement would you have the same issue with it?

PistolsAtDawn

PistolsAtDawn wrote: »

Trump is straight though, if he was gay and paid a male member of the press corps the same complement would you have the same issue with it?

Of course I would. It's inappropriate no matter who does it to whom, that's the whole point.

Bambi985

The whole "if a woman said the same to a male reporter..." thing baffles me. Just yesterday I was listening to the radio and they were discussing Justin Trudeau's visit to Ireland, the female reporters were "phoarr"ing all over the place and bantering about there being rows over who would get to cover it etc etc. If a female politician told a male reporter he had a nice smile there'd probably be laughter and banter at best, "bit bloody weird" comments at worst.

Now I'm no Trump supporter by any stretch of the imagination, but the storm-in-a-teacup coverage of this offends me more than the actual event at hand. Clickbait McClickybait all over facebook and twitter. Una Mullally getting in on the action, Louise O'Neill no doubt up next to take a piece of the pie. Let's focus on the less benign things Trump does and says, the truly damaging things he says about subjects that threaten America's freedom, environment and safety.

The Black Oil

Obama called a judge the best looking attorney general or something like that. He was called out on it.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

Bambi985 wrote: »

Personally his uncomfortably close relationship with Russia and his dangerous dismissal of climate change are far more offensive to me than him telling a female journalist who is more than capable and able to handle herself that she has a beautiful smile.

Well yes, you and everyone else. I've had a problem with pretty much every word that's come out of his mouth and obviously there are differences in degree. That doesn't mean that this latest float in his constant "women are for looking at" parade is fine just because other stuff he does is worse.

Bambi985

Bambi985 wrote: »

The whole "if a woman said the same to a male reporter..." thing baffles me. Just yesterday I was listening to the radio and they were discussing Justin Trudeau's visit to Ireland, the female reporters were "phoarr"ing all over the place and bantering about there being rows over who would get to cover it etc etc. If a female politician told a male reporter he had a nice smile there'd probably be laughter and banter at best, "bit bloody weird" comments at worst.

Now I'm no Trump supporter by any stretch of the imagination, but the storm-in-a-teacup coverage of this offends me more than the actual event at hand. Clickbait McClickybait all over facebook and twitter. Una Mullally getting in on the action, Louise O'Neill no doubt up next to take a piece of the pie. Let's focus on the less benign things Trump does and says, the truly damaging things he says about subjects that threaten America's freedom, environment and safety.

Unless it's the women who were President and Trudeau was the reporter it's not the same thing, is it? Specifically if the women interrupted an international diplomacy job to call him over and chat about how he takes care of his leader and what a cute smile he has.

Is there some sort of bar on mentioning everything but his very worst transgressions? I don't see a problem with discussing this incident while also acknowledging the fact that he's done worse.

What Mullally et al have to say about it is their business, just because someone else pipes up does that mean nobody else is allowed discuss it?

Bambi985

Candie wrote: »

Is there some sort of bar on mentioning everything but his very worst transgressions? I don't see a problem with discussing this incident while also acknowledging the fact that he's done worse.

What Mullally et al have to say about it is their business, just because someone else pipes up does that mean nobody else is allowed discuss it?

Where did I say that?

It points at a very predictable bandwagoning with the usual "I am OUTRAGED as a woman" talking heads cashing in on the usual Jezebel-style feminist outrage du jour. I'm not outraged, Caitriona Perry doesn't seem outraged, we can acknowledge something was bizarre and roll our eyes at the buffoon that is the US president without needing the disproportionate level of hysteria this pretty benign incident seems to have caused the last few days. Seemed to me to be more of a dig at the US press than anything else

I'm not outraged either, but it was inappropriate and it's fine to discuss it. I don't think we need to focus on his greater offences to the exclusion of his lesser ones. It happened, people are talking about it, it was shown on US tv which suggest it's been noted as unusual behaviour for the President. Just because people are talking about it doesn't mean it's all hysteria. Sure some of them are blowing it out of proportion, but not everyone is.

I think Perry handled it well, it must have been embarrassing for her and she could have said a lot more about it than just calling it bizarre.

Mooooo

I'd say half the reason he comes out with such awkward and cringe moments is his inability to move past a silence and being a poor conversationalist, instead of keeping the conversation on point he runs off on a tangent loses the point and ends up saying crap like that,. Obviously the other half is he has form in sexist comments and actions as wel

feargale

Candie wrote: »

I'm not outraged either, but it was inappropriate and it's fine to discuss it. I don't think we need to focus on his greater offences to the exclusion of his lesser ones. It happened, people are talking about it, it was shown on US tv which suggest it's been noted as unusual behaviour for the President. Just because people are talking about it doesn't mean it's all hysteria. Sure some of them are blowing it out of proportion, but not everyone is.

I think Perry handled it well, it must have been embarrassing for her and she could have said a lot more about it than just calling it bizarre.

Trump is an ass and showed it once again, but FFS where is the offence? Where is the transgression as another poster called it? By paying a compliment, however silly? Call it silly if you must comment on it, but get real and give over this nonsense about "transgression."
Oh, but he has sexist form, therefore he must be guilty of something on this occasion. What a refined concept of guilt some of you have!
One poster makes the irrelevant point that she would be offended if her boss made the same remark to her. Trump is not Caitriona Perry's boss. Would one be offended if one's local shopkeeper said one had a nice smile? Oh wait, one probably would!
Trump has given cause for greater concern and will do so in the future, and this kneejerk anxiety to be offended will devalue criticism of his real excesses. Have any of you posted about his inept handling of the North Korean situation?
Incidentally, if a female president called a male journalist a hunk, how many of you would take offence? How many of you have ever posted to object to the like?
If Ms. Perry was offended it is her prerogative to say so. Unlike some here she has been sensible and measured in her comment. But some people rise in the morning and the day isn't right until they can be offended about something. And some hate to see blood spilling while being unable to wade in.
For Christ's sake get over yourselves.

Neon_Lights

Despite all the negative press covfefe.

B0jangles

feargale wrote: »

Trump is an ass and showed it once again, but FFS where is the offence? Where is the transgression as another poster called it? By paying a compliment, however silly? Call it silly if you must comment on it, but get real and give over this nonsense about "transgression."
Oh, but he has sexist form, therefore he must be guilty of something on this occasion. What a refined concept of guilt some of you have!
One poster makes the irrelevant point that she would be offended if her boss made the same remark to her. Trump is not Caitriona Perry's boss. Would one be offended if one's local shopkeeper said one had a nice smile? Oh wait, one probably would!
Trump has given cause for greater concern and will do so in the future, and this kneejerk anxiety to be offended will devalue criticism of his real excesses. Have any of you posted about his inept handling of the North Korean situation?
Incidentally, if a female president called a male journalist a hunk, how many of you would take offence? How many of you have ever posted to object to the like?
If Ms. Perry was offended it is her prerogative to say so. Unlike some here she has been sensible and measured in her comment. But some people rise in the morning and the day isn't right until they can be offended about something. And some hate to see blood spilling while being unable to wade in.
For Christ's sake get over yourselves.

Now THAT'S a hysterical over-reaction.

cloudatlas

Even if you think it's fine to reduce someone who is doing a job to how they look, context is important I mean you are never going to think 'she has a nice smile' is anything but creepy coming from someone who said 'grab 'em by the pussy'.

It's reducing her, she is there doing an important job and he brought the focus to her appearance. He didn't say 'she's doing a great job'. Also he said 'I'm sure she serves you well', women are their to 'serve ' this suggests subjugation.

Reminds me of the 'legs-it' cover of the daily mail, two extremely powerful women doing their job and meeting to discuss important things but they needed to be reduced in some way and reminded that it isn't about what they say and do as heads of state it is how they look that has ultimate priority.

Trump is creepy as ****. Makes a chucky doll look wholesome.

kylith

feargale wrote: »

Have any of you posted about his inept handling of the North Korean situation?

Have you checked every thread contributer's past posts? WTF has Korea got to do with anything anyway? Are we only allowed discuss things that you think are relevant? Should we consult you about potential topics of conversation in future, since we are apparently unable to come up with acceptable topics by ourselves, according to you? Why would we even talk about Korea in TLL? Do you go to the Aquarium forum and complain that they're not discussing the World Cup?

feargale wrote: »

Incidentally, if a female president called a male journalist a hunk, how many of you would take offence?

Take offence? No, just like I haven't taken offence at this. Think it was wildly inappropriate behaviour I would not expect to see from a head of state, and have no problem saying that? Definitely.

I love how the word offended is being used here to make the discussion sound unreasonable. Nobody is offended, nobody is hysterical. We're just talking about an incident where one person behaved inappropriately in the public eye.

It doesn't mean we don't know worse things have happened, it doesn't mean we're walking around in a fit of outrage, it doesn't mean we don't know a simple compliment or that we'd feel differently if reversy gendery roundabouty, it just means we're talking about it. It was a remarkable thing to happen and it was even shown on the US news. We're just remarking on it further.

I'd love a ban on the use of the word offended, it's just flung out there to make people sound unreasonable, in this case for just talking about something.

Did I mention I'm not offended?

DeadHand

cloudatlas wrote: »

Even if you think it's fine to reduce someone who is doing a job to how they look, context is important I mean you are never going to think 'she has a nice smile' is anything but creepy coming from someone who said 'grab 'em by the pussy'.

It's reducing her, she is there doing an important job and he brought the focus to her appearance. He didn't say 'she's doing a great job'. Also he said 'I'm sure she serves you well', women are their to 'serve ' this suggests subjugation.

Watch it again (or indeed for the first time).

Trump's exact words were: "she has a nice smile on her face, I bet she treats you well".

He made no comment pertaining to the woman's appearance, only her disposition.

He never uses the word "serve" in the exchange- that and your subsequent flight of fancy about how it somehow proves he is all for the subjugation of womankind are purely your own invention.

What I took from it was he noticed a member of the press who seemed amiable and approachable and, chaotic windbag that he is, decided to indulge in a little pantomime. I saw nothing lecherous in it- his actual wording was in no way sexual or reductive.

Inappropriate? Maybe. But no malice. It's an unorthodox president behaving in an unorthodox manner- a non-event that does not deserve the attention it has garnered.

But, of course, attacking Trump is safe, easy and loses you no friends.

Grolschevik

Jesus. The Trumpechauns are all over this one...

We've been told. It's a non-event that doesn't deserve the attention it's getting.

Best stay quiet now.

DeadHand

Grolschevik wrote: »

Jesus. The Trumpechauns are all over this one...

Blah, Blah, Blah.

I happen to think Donald Trump is the most unsuitable POTUS since James Buchanan- but that's neither here nor there. Some clear falsehoods are being peddled in this thread- this incident is being grossly misrepresented.

I suppose it's easier to call me names than actually attempt to refute what I post.

Timberrrrrrrr

Neyite wrote: »

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/offbeat/she-has-a-nice-smile-trump-singles-out-rt%C3%A9-s-caitriona-perry-1.3136445



It was bizarre, wasn't it?

I saw lots of comments on Facebook from both men and women saying that it was just a compliment and to get a grip. I see it as no different to the kind of 'compliments' women get subjected to on the street when catcalled.

I'm not sure if Trump needed to stomp heterosexually all over the phone call to a gay Taoiseach, or if he just sizes up all women around him in terms of their attractiveness on a continual basis but it looked like an incredibly awkward and cringey encounter for her, especially given the workplace and their respective roles.

Do you thing catcalling to women is considered a compliment?

cloudatlas

DeadHand wrote: »

Watch it again (or indeed for the first time).

Trump's exact words were: "she has a nice smile on her face, I bet she treats you well".

He made no comment pertaining to the woman's appearance, only her disposition.

He never uses the word "serve" in the exchange- that and your subsequent flight of fancy about how it somehow proves he is all for the subjugation of womankind are purely your own invention.

What I took from it was he noticed a member of the press who seemed amiable and approachable and, chaotic windbag that he is, decided to indulge in a little pantomime. I saw nothing lecherous in it- his actual wording was in no way sexual or reductive.

Inappropriate? Maybe. But no malice. It's an unorthodox president behaving in an unorthodox manner- a non-event that does not deserve the attention it has garnered.

But, of course, attacking Trump is safe, easy and loses you no friends.

Yes you're right I was wrong I misheard the word 'serve' it was 'treat' so what he still used the word 'beautiful' then singled her out and commented on how she looked nothing wrong with my point at all and it does matter who said it, someone who is a known misogynist who has been accused of sexual assault and spoke about sexual assault in the lightest of terms.

That's right I want friends and to feel safe and easy. That's why I have opinions on matters. :rolleyes: You are the one seeing him as some kind of Boris Johnson funny buffoon.

Neyite

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Do you thing catcalling to women is considered a compliment?

No.