Donald Trump has posted a video mocking potential presidential race rival Joe Biden after the Democrat was accused of inappropriate touching by a number of women.
And in typical Trump fashion, he did it despite his own history of behaviour towards women having been repeatedly called into question.
The former Vice President to Barack Obama Biden has been criticised by a series of women who say he made them ‘uncomfortable’ with his ‘hands on’ style.
The 76-year-old tried to move past the issue yesterday by posting a video on Twitter saying he would respect people’s personal space – but Trump was quick to capitalise, despite facing his own allegations of sexual harassment.
The Republican shared a parody of the clip on his Twitter account which shows a cut out of Biden rubbing his own shoulders and nuzzling his neck.
(Image: Twitter/realDonaldTrump)
“WELCOME BACK JOE!” Trump added, in all caps.
Biden slapped back on Twitter, retweeting the parody with the sarcastic comment “I see that you are on the job and presidential, as always.”
Trump is no doubt hoping to do damage to Biden ahead of any potential Presidential race between them next year.
Biden was seen as a strong contender for the Democratic nomination until the touching scandal broke.
But Trump’s apparent glee ignores his own history of women accusing him of bad behaviour.
(Image: Twitter/realDonaldTrump)
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His own presidential campaign in 2016 ran into problems when old footage emerged of him bragging about groping women.
“When you’re a star, they let you do it,” Trump said on the now “Access Hollywood” recording.
“I just start kissing them. I don’t even wait. Grab ’em by the p***y.”
Biden’s complainants have come forward in the last week to say the Democrat was overly physical with them at political events in recent years.
In one case he is said to have kissed a woman on the back of her head at a campaign event and rubbed noses with another at a fundraiser in 2009.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
As the number of alleged victims increased, Biden took to Twitter to post a clip addressing the issue, though not explicitly apologising.
“The boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset and I get it,” he said.
“I get it. I hear what they’re saying. “I will be much more mindful, and that’s my responsibility.”
“I’ve worked my whole life to empower women. I’ve worked my whole life to prevent abuse.”
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Former Nevada politician Lucy Flores said Biden made her “feel uneasy, gross, and confused” when he kissed the back of her head at a 2014 campaign event.
In response Biden initially released a statement saying he believed he never acted inappropriately during his many years in public life.
Three more women followed with similar complaints.
Biden’s political team has tried to contain the damage, encouraging women who have known him to come forward with positive accounts of their interactions with him.
But his propensity for hugging and physical touching has come under new scrutiny in the era of MeToo and TimesUp.
