As Donald Trump prepared to announce his presidential campaign in 2016, he ominously warned his closest advisors of an impending deluge of negative stories, particularly from women.
This revelation came from his former fixer, Michael Cohen, who testified in Trump’s hush-money trial on Monday. According to Cohen, Trump foresaw a surge in sexual assault allegations, cautioning him to be prepared for a wave of women coming forward with their stories.
In the years that followed, at least 26 women have accused Trump of inappropriate touching, with some allegations dating back decades. While a few have bravely come forward to share their experiences, many have faced relentless harassment and vitriol from Trump’s devoted followers.
Writer E. Jean Carroll was the first to take Trump to court, winning a landmark case last May when a jury found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming her, awarding her $5 million in damages. However, Trump has since posted a $92 million bond to appeal the ruling, and Carroll has become a target of online abuse from his supporters.
Despite Trump’s blanket denials and claims that the women were paid to lie, some have found solace in each other’s stories. In the wake of Stormy Daniels’ bombshell testimony last week, some of Trump’s other accusers have been reaching out to each other, sharing their experiences and finding solidarity.
Trump faces 34 felony charges for allegedly falsifying business records to conceal his affair with Daniels, and his trial continues to come to light.
As the truth slowly comes to light, it’s clear that Trump’s warnings of a “tidal wave” of negative stories were more than just a clever prediction – they were a calculated attempt to silence and discredit the women who dared to speak out against him.