Bill O’Reilly Lets Trump Off The Hook For 2005 Tape In First Post-Debate Interview

Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:20 pm

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As Donald Trump’s campaign continues to implode following the release of a tape in which the GOP nominee is heard bragging about sexually assaulting women, Trump retreated to Fox News to stop the bleeding.

The right-wing propaganda network did not disappoint the Republican nominee.

In the interview with Bill O’Reilly, the first since the second presidential debate, the first question he received was about a tweet – not about the controversial ‘Access Hollywood’ tape that came out on Friday.

In fact, the first five minutes of the interview were consumed by talk of how Trump has become “unshackled” in recent days.

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When Trump was eventually asked by O’Reilly about how he will win back women offended by his 2005 comments – although decent men are offended, too, I would point out – he responded with what has become his standard defense for his indefensible remarks.

“Well, first of all, locker room talk and most people have heard it before,” Trump said, shockingly avoiding any accountability. O’Reilly, who himself has been accused of sexual assault, remained silent.

Trump even added, “I’ve had a lot of women come up to me and say, ‘Boy, I’ve heard that and I’ve heard a lot worse than that over my life.'”

There was no tough follow-up question about the tape – surprise, surprise – but O’Reilly did acknowledge the fact that Trump is performing poorly among women.

“I’m not sure I believe it,” Trump responded, despite the polling that shows him being absolutely demolished by female voters.

If the goal for Donald Trump in this interview was to avoid any tough questioning about his abhorrent comments about women, then it was certainly a success. It’s also likely that many of his most ardent supporters will like what they heard.

The rest of America – the folks who will decide this election – saw a very scared man who will do anything to avoid owning up to his mistakes.

Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.