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The New York Times is under fire after one of its columnists suggested that President Donald Trump is responsible for creating the culture that led to an alleged sexual assault against a woman at Cornell University by seven men.
“What this is, is it’s a fundamental disrespect for women,” columnist Michelle Cottle said on ABC News on Sunday. “You can’t send those messages no matter how drunk you are as a frat boy without having some kind of misunderstanding about what women are there for and whether this is a real person you’re dealing with.”
“And that, I think, starts, you know — we can go to the president for this one,” Cottle went on. “I mean, we are in a moment in this culture where the glorification of being thuggish and swaggering and mistreating women is kind of making you a cool kid.”
CORNELL PRESIDENT SAYS UNIVERSITY ‘MUST DO BETTER’ ON HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
The New York Times building is seen on May 6, 2026, in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
A woman identified as Jane Doe in court records has filed a civil lawsuit against seven men she alleges gang-raped her during a ketamine- and alcohol-induced incident at Cornell University in 2024. Former President Joe Biden occupied the White House at that time.
The men have denied wrongdoing, with some saying the sex was consensual, and others saying they didn’t participate. No charges have been filed.
AOC’S DRAMATIC RETELLING OF CORNELL RAPE ALLEGATIONS COLLIDES WITH COMPLAINT DETAILS
The backlash to Cottle’s comments was fierce, especially among those pointing out that the incident happened when Biden was president, including Fox News contributor Joe Concha.
“This happened in 2024 when Biden was President. Did she not know that?” another X user asked.
“Latest edition of ‘Trump turned me into a newt!’ brought to you by a very very smart person,” said CNN contributor Scott Jennings.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a Women’s History Month event in the East Room of the White House on March 12, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
“Media and pundits fall all over themselves trying to make everything and anything about Donald Trump. It’s embarrassing and so incredibly lazy,” said Tricia McLaughlin, former assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security.
“This take is SO far beyond delusional that you can’t even see sanity from here…” said conservative commentator John Ziegler.
“Of course, it’s Trump’s fault,” said the Media Research Center, which first posted the clip.
ATTORNEY FOR ACCUSED CORNELL STUDENT CALLS ON LETITIA JAMES TO STEP ASIDE OVER PRIOR COMMENTS
Trump has commented on the case, which is now being investigated by longtime foe New York Attorney General Letitia James, who in 2022 filed a civil fraud lawsuit against him. Trump in 2024 was found liable for fraud and ordered to pay more than $350 million, but the penalty was overturned on appeal.
Former President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Manuel Ceneta)
Asked about James being appointed to investigate the alleged gang rape, Trump launched into an attack on the state attorney general.
“Well, Letitia James is a corrupt person,” Trump said. “She’s totally corrupt, and I can’t imagine it — I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake. Letitia James is a corrupt person.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to The New York Times and the White House for comment.
