Anderson Cooper: Trump ‘remarkably understanding and forgiving’ to alleged abusers

CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Friday was critical of President Trump after Trump praised former White House staff secretary Rob Porter — who resigned after reports surfaced that he abused his ex wives.

“Today, the president of the United States weighed in. He said nothing about the women. Nothing about spousal abuse, he didn’t mention the women at all,” Cooper said on CNN.

“No, what he did, is he chose to praise Rob Porter.”

{mosads}Cooper said what really stands out about Trump’s response is his “almost reflexive defense of an alleged abuser and total lack of consideration or even simple acknowledgment of the accusers and their allegations.”

“This president has a history of doing for others what he did today for Rob Porter,” Cooper said, citing Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes.

“The president, it turns out, is a remarkably understanding and forgiving guy when it comes to alleged abusers.”

Cooper’s comments come after Trump on Friday said he hopes Porter has a “great career ahead of him.”

“Well, we wish him well. He worked very hard,” Trump said of Porter when asked by reporters about the staff secretary’s resignation this week.

Trump said he found out very recently about the allegations against Porter and was “very surprised.”

“But we certainly wish him well, obviously a tough time for him,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “He did a very good job when he was in the White House and we hope he has a wonderful, hopefully, he has a great career ahead of him.”

“But it was very sad when we heard about it, and certainly he’s also very sad now,” he added.

Porter’s two ex-wives in media counts this week accused him of abusing them during their marriages in media accounts this week. 

Cooper said Friday that “by and large, if you’re a man accused of mistreating a woman, at least a white man, the president of the United States, he’s quick to point out their claims of innocence.”