 "Why is #KamalaGropedMe trending on social media?")
Just days ahead of the US election, social media was set ablaze on Thursday with the hashtag #KamalaGropedMe, sparking thousands of posts.
This trend follows former model Stacy Williams’s recent claims that former president Donald Trump, groped her in the 1990s. In response, MAGA supporters rained down on social media with the hashtag “#KamalaGropedMe" in a series of mock allegations. The result? #KamalaGropedMe swiftly topped the trending charts.
So, what’s the hashtag all about? What exactly are the allegations against Trump? How has his team responded? Here’s a breakdown.
Allegations against Donald Trump
Stacy Williams, a professional model in the 1990s, recently claimed in an interview with The Guardian that during a visit to Trump’s New York office, an unsettling incident took place.
She recalls first meeting Trump at a 1992 Christmas party, shortly after she began dating Jeffrey Epstein, whom she described as a close friend of Trump. “It became very clear that he and Donald were really, really good friends,” she noted.
Trump even told New York magazine in 2002, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side." But the duo had a “falling out” in the later years.
Months later, while visiting Trump Tower with Epstein, Williams alleged Trump suddenly pulled her in close and groped her, placing his hands “all over” her breasts, waist, and buttocks. Williams said she froze in shock, and felt “deeply confused” while observing the two men smiling at each other.
Afterward, Epstein’s attitude turned cold, and he asked her, “Why did you let him do that?"-an exchange that she later interpreted as part of a “twisted game” between the men.
In 1993, Trump allegedly sent her a postcard of Mar-a-Lago with a message in his signature black sharpie: “Stacey - Your home away from home. Love Donald.”
Here is a postcard, signed by Trump to Stacey Williams.
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) October 23, 2024
Please SHARE! pic.twitter.com/BUDjaqLdnB
Williams ended her relationship with Epstein soon after, unaware of his extensive history of abuse, which later came to light as one of the most shocking cases in modern history.
A ‘fake story’
Responding to allegations against the former president, the press secretary for Trump’s campaign Karoline Leavitt, vehemently denied the accusations and called them ‘politically motivated’.
“These accusations, made by a former activist for Barack Obama and announced on a Harris campaign call two weeks before the election, are unequivocally false. It’s obvious this fake story was contrived by the Harris campaign,” Leavitt said in a statement.
Trump himself has faced about two dozen allegations of sexual misconduct, all of which he categorically denies. The allegations have included claims of Trump kissing them without consent, reaching under their skirts, and, in the case of some beauty pageant contestants, walking in the changing room unannounced.
Williams, 56, told The Guardian that she did not consider coming out in the past because she wanted to “avoid negative attention or risk the backlash many other survivors have faced”.
“I just chose in my own way – comments on social media to contradict people who said he didn’t do anything,” she said.
What is #Kamalagropedme all about?
After allegations emerged against the former president, MAGA supporters swiftly took to X, launching the hashtag #KamalaGropedMe. The posts, which did not have any basis, seemingly mocked the accusations and trolled Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
A majority of posts aimed at pointing the timing of Williams’ accusations, casting doubt on her decision to come forward over 30 years later—just as the 2024 US election approaches.
Here’s what the posts are all about
To all my Brothers who have spent the last 30 years suffering in silence until 2 weeks before the election, know it is not your fault. You are not alone. Many victims of Kamala's serial groping victims have came forward, 13 days before the election. #KamalaGropedMe #MeToo pic.twitter.com/Xw0ymFTL2Z
— MicroRest (@Micro_Rest) October 24, 2024
#KamalaGropedMe 25 years ago but I felt like it was important to let the world know today.
— Colonel Angus® (@tenaciousg44) October 24, 2024
Oh, #ElectionDay is in a few weeks? Oh, damn, I had no idea 🤷🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/cMWttY3AEB
Kamala groped me today. I will wait 20 years and tell right before Election Day because that’s how you do it #KamalaGropedMe pic.twitter.com/ECxsZMj9pb
— caligrl1225Conservative (@CaliGrlisback59) October 24, 2024
#KamalaGropedMe
— Pennsylvania Nationalist (@Atragunofficial) October 24, 2024
Kamala groped me 34 years ago. I’m totally putting this out there for legitimate reasons, and not the fact that the election is two weeks away.
And yes, I’m only 33 years old but what I’m saying is 100% true. the guardian will confirm it
#trustmebro pic.twitter.com/cgzVHAnUeU
On the other hand, Harris’ supporters have called out MAGA supporters for making a “joke” about the allegations and reducing such a serious conversation to mere ridicule.
“Not surprising to see maga got#KamalaGropedMe trending because maga thinks sexual assault is a fu**ing joke,” wrote one user.
With input from agencies
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