New York Times Columnist Criticizes Trump’s Influence on Cultural Attitudes

The New York Times is facing criticism following comments from one of its columnists, Michelle Cottle, regarding the influence of former President Donald Trump on cultural attitudes toward women. During an appearance on ABC News, Cottle suggested that Trump’s behavior may have contributed to a culture that led to an alleged sexual assault involving seven men at Cornell University.

Cottle stated, “What this is, is it’s a fundamental disrespect for women.” She added that such attitudes, regardless of the context, reflect a misunderstanding of the value and humanity of women. “And that, I think, starts, you know — we can go to the president for this one,” she said, pointing to Trump’s influence as a factor in normalizing disrespectful behavior.

The case in question involves a woman, referred to as Jane Doe in legal documents, who has filed a civil lawsuit claiming she was gang-raped by seven men during an incident influenced by ketamine and alcohol at Cornell University in 2024. The men involved have denied any wrongdoing, with some asserting the encounter was consensual or claiming they were not participants. To date, no criminal charges have been filed.

The backlash to Cottle’s remarks was significant, with commentators noting that the alleged incident occurred while President Joe Biden was in office. Fox News contributor Joe Concha highlighted this point, questioning Cottle’s understanding of the timeline. Others, including CNN contributor Scott Jennings, responded with skepticism and criticized the tendency to link unrelated events back to Trump.

Tricia McLaughlin, formerly with the Department of Homeland Security, commented on the media’s focus on Trump, describing it as lazy and embarrassing. Conservative commentator John Ziegler also reacted strongly, labeling the perspective as delusional.

The Media Research Center initially shared Cottle’s comments online, adding to the conversation. Meanwhile, former President Trump, known for his disputes with New York Attorney General Letitia James, responded to her involvement in the case investigation. Trump criticized James, accusing her of corruption, and expressed doubts about the fairness of her inquiry. James previously filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump in 2022, which added tension to their dynamic.