GOP Texas congressman apologizes for saying he'd 'consider' backing Donald Trump if Trump loved raping women
Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) went on MSNBC's All In With Chris Hayes on Tuesday to advocate for Donald Trump, and he probably wishes he hadn't. When the discussion turned to the 11-year-old recording of Donald Trump boasting into a live mic about how he likes to kiss and grope attractive women, Hayes asked Farenthold "if someone off the record in a locker room — this was not in a locker room, it was workplace — said, 'I really like raping women,' would that be locker room talk?" Farenthold said it depends, "you don't know the entire context of this, but I'm not going to defend Donald Trump on this, I don't, I don't like what he said, and Donald Trump can defend himself."
Hayes cut in, asking, "If a tape came out with Donald Trump saying that, saying 'I really like to rape women,' you would continue to endorse him.'" "Again, it would— I'd— that would be bad," Farenthold answered, "and I would have to consider, I'd consider it."
It was a sneaky hypothetical question from Hayes, and a pretty terrible answer from the Texas Republican. If he'd had time to consider it longer, Farenthold might have answered it differently. Instead, he took to Twitter:
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
So Farenthold is not supporting a presidential candidate he believes to love raping women. The voters of Corpus Christi will surely be relieved to hear that.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Ex-FBI agents sue Patel over protest firingspeed read The former FBI agents were fired for kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest for ‘apolitical tactical reasons’
-
The real tragedy that inspired ‘Hamlet,’ the life of a pingpong prodigy and the third ‘Avatar’ adventure in December moviesThe Week Recommends This month’s new releases include ‘Hamnet,’ ‘Marty Supreme’ and ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’
-
‘These moves would usher in a future of chemical leaks’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Ex-FBI agents sue Patel over protest firingspeed read The former FBI agents were fired for kneeling during a 2020 racial justice protest for ‘apolitical tactical reasons’
-
Trump unveils $12B bailout for tariff-hit farmersSpeed Read The president continues to insist that his tariff policy is working
-
Trump’s Comey case dealt new setbackspeed read A federal judge ruled that key evidence could not be used in an effort to reindict former FBI Director James Comey
-
Moscow cheers Trump’s new ‘America First’ strategyspeed read The president’s national security strategy seeks ‘strategic stability’ with Russia
-
Trump tightens restrictions for work visasSpeed Read The length of work permits for asylum seekers and refugees has been shortened from five years to 18 months
-
Supreme Court revives Texas GOP gerrymanderSpeed Read Texas Republicans can use the congressional map they approved in August at President Donald Trump’s behest
-
Boat strike footage rattles some lawmakersSpeed Read ‘Disturbing’ footage of the Sept. 2 attack on an alleged drug-trafficking boat also shows the second strike that killed two survivors who were clinging to the wreckage
-
Trump boosts gas cars in fuel economy rollbackspeed read Watering down fuel efficiency standards is another blow to former President Biden’s effort to boost electric vehicles
