# What was Trump actually implying he did when he said he "grabb\[ed\] em by the pussy" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 1, 2019, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870 "2019-04-01T17:49:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/21 "2019-04-02T00:18:01Z")
I wouldn’t know if he was joking. I don’t know what he was thinking, I just know what he said, and what he said is that he can’t help forcing himself on women. And they cheer. Simply flabbergasting. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/22 "2019-04-02T00:20:04Z")
“I am so rich and famous and AWESOME that I can do absolutely anything and get away with it.” I have no doubt that he would literally try to grab anyone, anywhere, if he wanted. But in that context he meant it more in the same way he meant “I could shoot someone and they’d still vote for me” or whatever the hell he said. It’s egotistical puffery. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/23 "2019-04-02T00:23:39Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > “I am so rich and famous and AWESOME that I can do absolutely anything and get away with it.” I have no doubt that he would literally try to grab anyone, anywhere, if he wanted. But in that context he meant it more in the same way he meant “I could shoot someone and they’d still vote for me” or whatever the hell he said. It’s egotistical puffery. This does seem more plausible. My mental model of the man is that he doesn’t \*need \*to grope random women in the vagina. He can just pay a woman who is in the top 1% of attractiveness to have sex with him whenever he wants. Why would he be groping random crotches? It doesn’t make any sense. Similarly with the “I could shoot someone on 5th avenue” quote. Trump isn’t saying he’s a psychopath who wants to kill a random person on 5th avenue. Not that he’s a good guy, I’m sure he’d consider ordering federal troops to machine gun immigrants trying to cross the border if he could. (“maybe fire a few warning shots first”). He’s just saying he _could_ do that if he wanted. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/24 "2019-04-02T00:35:21Z")
He said he does a thing and then women come forward and say that he did that thing to them and some other people twist themselves into knots trying to explain why he didn’t mean it literally. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/25 "2019-04-02T00:40:40Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > What it’s about is Trump’s insecurity. > > I know, I know. But, hear me out. Trump is obsessed with what other people think of him. He needs that reinforcement for his psyche to feel whole. It’s one of the reasons he gets so much out of speaking to friendly crowds and why he remembers slights so long. > > So in the case in question, he’s bragging for status points. He’s showing Billy Bush that he’s very masculine and capable of doing whatever he wants with women and assuming Bush will believe that somehow makes him superior to other men in Trump’s orbit. > > As opposed to, you know, being an asshole. Supposedly he has a cold, abusive father. Some people compensate for that by becoming narcissists, creating a shell personality that they present as smarter, richer, better than everyone else. Anything that chips away at that shell causes intense anxiety and rage as it brings all those unresolved childhood traumas back, which leads to retaliation. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/26 "2019-04-02T01:01:33Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > He said he does a thing and then women come forward and say that he did that thing to them and some other people twist themselves into knots trying to explain why he didn’t mean it literally. Oh, I believe that he has done it literally, just that he was making a larger point about his status supposedly enabling him to get away with doing whatever he wants because “he’s a star.” I mean, he wouldn’t be the first to make this point, but he probably is the first to put it so eloquently, as only he can do. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/27 "2019-04-02T01:27:51Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > It is a joke. > He was exaggerating for comic effect. Like saying I haven’t had dinner yet, I’m so hungry I could eat a horse. > He made a claim that some women let famous people kiss them, and then comically exaggerated by claiming he could grab them by the pussy. I agree with this and think that it is very clear from listening to the tape. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/28 "2019-04-02T01:32:36Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I agree with this and think that it is very clear from listening to the tape. Did you find it funny? Did you laugh? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/29 "2019-04-02T02:30:26Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I agree with this and think that it is very clear from listening to the tape. Right. The humor derives from the absurd premise. Nobody could _actually_ eat an entire horse in one sitting, or grope a woman’s genitals. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/30 "2019-04-02T02:57:39Z")
And yet at least one of the women claimed in a lawsuit\*\* in 1997\*\* that he did exactly what he said he did. Let me repeat that. **In 1997** she sued him and in her suit claimed that he grabbed her crotch. Now unless she is a time traveler you can’t claim that this was in response to hearing the Access Hollywood tape. Which is more likely, that she made up a story and sued him and he later used the same action to brag about his power or that he actually, literally tends to grab women. I don’t argue that he thinks that he can get away with anything because of his money and status but I just can’t understand how so many here insist that that he cannot be literally grabbing women. It’s demeaning to all women who have been assaulted not to mention the particular women that he assaulted to claim that this didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/31 "2019-04-02T03:05:56Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > And yet at least one of the women claimed in a lawsuit\*\* in 1997\*\* that he did exactly what he said he did. Let me repeat that. **In 1997** she sued him and in her suit claimed that he grabbed her crotch. Now unless she is a time traveler you can’t claim that this was in response to hearing the Access Hollywood tape. Which is more likely, that she made up a story and sued him and he later used the same action to brag about his power or that he actually, literally tends to grab women. > I don’t argue that he thinks that he can get away with anything because of his money and status but I just can’t understand how so many here insist that that he cannot be literally grabbing women. It’s demeaning to all women who have been assaulted not to mention the particular women that he assaulted to claim that this didn’t happen. I’m not saying he doesn’t do it. I am saying it doesn’t make any sense for him to do it, and in the context of the tape, I was assuming he didn’t literally do it, he meant it figuratively. I couldn’t conceive of a reason why a billionaire who, while he can’t have any specific woman he wants, can have women who are some of the hottest women alive, every night until the end of his life. In light of the evidence that he does do…literally what he claimed to do…from multiple women, from eras long before the tape…it seems more likely than not that Mr. Trump actually does grope women’s vaginas from time to time. I stand corrected, the straight dope seems to be that our Pussy Grabber in chief…really sometimes grabs pussy. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/32 "2019-04-02T03:15:12Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > … I was assuming he didn’t literally do it, he meant it figuratively. … Wow. I’m truly astounded that you thought he meant it figuratively. I don’t know whether to be touched by your naivete or dismayed that you don’t grasp the depth of his depraved character. > [@](#): > > In light of the evidence that he does do…literally what he claimed to do…from multiple women, from eras long before the tape…it seems more likely than not that Mr. Trump actually does grope women’s vaginas from time to time. > > I stand corrected, the straight dope seems to be that our Pussy Grabber in chief…really sometimes grabs pussy. Yes. He meant it literally and you may take him literally. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/33 "2019-04-02T09:22:37Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Oh, I believe that he has done it literally, just that he was making a larger point about his status supposedly enabling him to get away with doing whatever he wants because “he’s a star.” I mean, he wouldn’t be the first to make this point, but he probably is the first to put it so eloquently, as only he can do. Oh hell no, he’s not the first. He merely happened to do it on tape and then run for POTUS, but he’s not the first. Threads like this give me flashbacks to guys who were not caught on tape, nor run for POTUS, but who were equally eloquent about being able to get away with doing anything they wanted. You must be a guy, if it’s never happened to you nor to any of your close friends. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/34 "2019-04-02T10:20:58Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > With that said, the “grab em by the pussy” quote has never made sense to me. I think it was one of the vanishingly rare times when he told the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/35 "2019-04-02T10:48:15Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > He said he does a thing and then women come forward and say that he did that thing to them and some other people twist themselves into knots trying to explain why he didn’t mean it literally. Perhaps he only grabs women by the pussy ironically. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/36 "2019-04-02T11:29:56Z")
Trump wouldn’t recognize irony if it took him to a back alley and gave him a beating worthy of Mike Tyson while loudly yelling “I’m IRONY! I-ro-ny! Remember my name!” ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/37 "2019-04-02T11:35:10Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > I’m not saying he doesn’t do it. I am saying it doesn’t make any sense for him to do it, and in the context of the tape, I was assuming he didn’t literally do it, he meant it figuratively. I couldn’t conceive of a reason why a billionaire who, while he can’t have any specific woman he wants, can have women who are some of the hottest women alive, every night until the end of his life. It’s not analogous to having sex with a woman. It’s much closer to a gross uncle to tells you to “pull my finger” and lets out a gross, stinky fart. It’s about seeing the look of shock and horror, and the fact that the victim can’t really do anything while you laugh at their discomfort. Groping is basically the same thing, with the added bonus of a dick-twitch, a little sexual thrill mixed in with the more general being-an-asshole thrill. If you want to find the gropers in your circle, don’t look to the ones that seem all about sex. Look to the ones who enjoy other petty shows of power and get a thrill out of being an asshole. It’s the guy who hands you a pencil, then pulls it back, then hands it to you, then pulls it back, and laughs at your frustration. Serious question–do you know the kind of person I am talking about? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/38 "2019-04-02T12:18:53Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > I am saying it doesn’t make any sense for him to do it, and in the context of the tape, I was assuming he didn’t literally do it, he meant it figuratively. I couldn’t conceive of a reason why a billionaire who, while he can’t have any specific woman he wants, can have women who are some of the hottest women alive, every night until the end of his life. Your incredulousness is what rich powerful men bank on when they rape and sexually harass. You realize this, right? I mean, “why would a guy like that need to rape when he could have any woman he wanted” is debunked in any Rape Myths and other Bullshit 101 course at your local college. It’s about power, not sex. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/39 "2019-04-02T12:26:17Z")
Rapists and assaulters don’t want consensual sex, they want to rape and assault. Bill Cosby wanted unconscious women to abuse – he didn’t want beautiful and willing young women. Rape isn’t about sex, it’s about rape. Groping isn’t about sex, it’s about groping. Gropers, assaulters, and rapists are doing the things they really want to do, not substituting something for consensual sex. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2019, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870/40 "2019-04-02T12:58:02Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > This does seem more plausible. My mental model of the man is that he doesn’t \*need \*to grope random women in the vagina. He can just pay a woman who is in the top 1% of attractiveness to have sex with him whenever he wants. Why would he be groping random crotches? In order to humiliate and terrify the women in question, and get a power rush for himself. He’s a woman-hater and a narcissist. _Everything_ he does is about either selfishness or malice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-trump-actually-implying-he-did-when-he-said-he-grabb-ed-em-by-the-pussy/831870.md?page=3)