Donald Trump's Twitter attack on Kirsten Gillibrand shows she's a top challenger for president
in 2020.
To be singled out � and attacked � is a neon sign a politician is powerful enough
to pose a threat.
And President Donald Trump's scorching tweet on Tuesday aimed at Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
is being viewed in Washington as a sign Gillibrand is a top contender for President in 2020.
Trump's tweet backfires But if the President's tweet was meant to
slow Gillibrand down, it backfired.
President Trump called Gillibrand a "lightweight" and "flunky" who would 'come to my office
"begging" for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them)."
On Wednesday, Senator Gillibrand told the NBC Today Show Trump's latest tweet was:
"a sexist smear intended to silence me.
And I'm not going to be silenced on this issue.
I've heard the testimony of many women, numerous accusers, I believe them.
And he should resign for that."
Gillibrand, who says Trump was simply a supporter of her first campaign, wasn't the only person
to note sexually suggestive overtones in the tweet.
Senator Elizabeth Warren accused the President of trying to "bully, intimidate and slut-shame"
Gillibrand.
The editorial board of USA Today opined:
"With his latest tweet, clearly implying that a United States Senator would trade sexual
favours for campaign cash, President Trump has shown he is not fit for office."
White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders sharply disagreed:
"I think only if your mind was in the gutter would you have read it that way."Gillibrand
leading #metoo charge The battle between Trump and Gillibrand comes
against the backdrop of the MeToo movement which has seen a string of powerful men in
entertainment, media and politics step down or lose their jobs, and in the wake of the
Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore's stinging loss in Alabama to Democrat Doug Jones.
On Capitol Hill, a group of House Democrats has called for an investigation into allegations
of sexual misconduct by the President.
In the upper chamber, Senator Gillibrand has led the charge on sexual harassment allegations.
She was among those who called on fellow Democrat Senator Al Franken to step down in the wake
of allegations of sexual impropriety.
Gillibrand took fire from some over her comments that former President Bill Clinton should
have stepped down because of his relationship with a White House Intern.
Now, the Senator says allegations against President Trump � including calls this week
from some of the women themselves � must be investigated.
On Today she told NBC's Savannah Guthrie:
"He's a bully and he's been attacking different people across this country since he's been
President and since the Women's March, women have stood up, have fought hard, have spoken
out about their beliefs.
And they've not stopped ... because of it I have hope for this country."
The Senator Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell has sidestepped the issue, telling reporters,
"What we're in charge of here is the Senate."
The tweet that started it all That Gillibrand's star is on the rise is beyond
dispute.
Because of how she's handled herself in the wake of a Twitter torpedo from the President
of the United States.
And because she was singled out for that tweet in the first place.
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