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Sexism

Public disputes concerning sexism, gender stereotypes, and alleged unequal treatment based on sex or gender.

Related cases

Case

Laura Loomer’s remarks about Angie Nixon and other Black women in politics

Laura Loomer described Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon and four other prominent Black women using the word “ghetto” and a gendered slur, said the stereotype exists, and later defended the wording as an accurate description of Nixon’s conduct, race, and ideology. Nixon and political figures and commentators across party lines called the remarks racist, sexist, degrading, offensive, or vile. The dispute concerns whether Loomer’s stated political criticism can be separated from the racial and gender stereotypes used in the original and follow-up statements.

Case

Jon Ossoff’s travel with Natalie remark about Donald Trump and Natalie Harp

At an Atlanta reelection rally, Senator Jon Ossoff said President Donald Trump did not want to do the work of the presidency and instead wanted to build a ballroom and “travel with Natalie” on a Qatari aircraft. Trump allies accused Ossoff of misogyny and of implying an affair with White House aide Natalie Harp. Ossoff did not apologize and said senior White House aides are powerful taxpayer-paid public officials whose influence is fair to scrutinize.

Statements

Mario Díaz-Balart

Role at the time: United States representative from Florida

Explicitly stayed out

Responding to

Trump and the Republican Party bear responsibility for Loomer’s rhetoric because they keep her within Trump’s political orbit.

"responder a cada persona que dice algo ofensivo realmente es algo que no me interesa hacer, nunca he hecho."
Why we used this label

His express refusal to engage supports this classification; it does not establish endorsement.

Mario Díaz-Balart interview on Laura Loomer — Esta Semana (opens in a new tab)00:53.660–01:03.300; follow-up question and response 01:30.420–02:29.940

Laura Loomer

Role at the time: Political commentator and original speaker

Defended or excused

Responding to

The disputed descriptors were accurate descriptions of Nixon’s conduct, race, and political ideology, rather than racism.

"I'm not going to apologize."
Why we used this label

She reiterated her own disputed wording and rejected apology. This is self-defense, not an independent defender.

LaMonica McIver

Role at the time: United States representative

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Laura Loomer is just as stupid as she is racist, and her comments are disgusting."
Why we used this label

Direct public condemnation.

Stephen A. Smith

Role at the time: Media commentator

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Laura Loomer’s comments about Black women in politics were highly offensive. Period. I’m calling it out!"
Why we used this label

Unambiguous public rejection of the comments.

Audie Cornish

Role at the time: CNN anchor and journalist

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"It’s depressing for me to wake up and see something like that."
Why we used this label

Editorial condemnation grounded in the treatment of Black women.

Abby Phillip

Role at the time: CNN host and journalist

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Loomer is facing backlash for dropping these racist attacks."
Why we used this label

Editorial characterization by the host rather than an official political statement.

May Mailman

Role at the time: Former Trump policy official and commentator

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Yes. Go condemn Laura Loomer."
Why we used this label

Contains an explicit condemnation but pairs it with minimizing and consistency arguments.

Noah Rothman

Role at the time: Conservative writer and commentator

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Those are vile comments. A long history of similar vile comments. She deserves to be cast out."
Why we used this label

Explicit conservative condemnation.

Isaiah Martin

Role at the time: Democratic activist and commentator

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Trump absolutely should go and disown Laura Loomer."
Why we used this label

Direct call for repudiation.

Shermichael Singleton

Role at the time: Republican strategist and CNN commentator

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"What Laura Loomer said is despicable. It doesn’t stand for the party."
Why we used this label

Explicit conservative condemnation and party distancing.

Rashida Tlaib

Role at the time: United States representative

Condemned

Responding to

The absence of comparable Republican condemnation reflects a political double standard in reactions to inflammatory online figures.

"I’m going to check to see if you said anything about Laura Loomer calling a Black woman running for Senate…"
Why we used this label

The statement treats Loomer’s conduct as condemnable and principally advances a consistency argument.

Ben Crump

Role at the time: Civil-rights attorney

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Black women should NEVER have to endure such hateful and degrading rhetoric for daring to lead."
Why we used this label

Expressly calls the rhetoric hateful and degrading.

Wes Moore

Role at the time: Governor of Maryland

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"You attack and insult Black women because you believe peddling racism is good for your clicks and your business model."
Why we used this label

Explicit characterization as racism and a call to condemn.

Hakeem Jeffries

Role at the time: House Democratic leader

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"Laura Loomer is a stone-cold racist, pathological liar and nutjob."
Why we used this label

Explicit party-leadership condemnation.

Marjorie Taylor Greene

Role at the time: Former Republican member of Congress

Condemned

Responding to

Loomer’s remarks about Nixon and the other women were racist and misogynistic stereotyping rather than legitimate political criticism.

"I 1000% denounce Laura Loomer and her nasty, hateful, racists comments."
Why we used this label

Explicit cross-partisan denunciation.

Laura Loomer

Role at the time: Primary speaker and political commentator

Defended or excused

Responding to

The disputed descriptors were accurate descriptions of Nixon’s conduct, race, and political ideology, rather than racism.

"Is she ghetto? Yes. Is she Black? Yes. Is she a communist? Yes. I spoke the truth."
Why we used this label

Direct defense by the primary speaker; this is self-defense, not independent condoning.

Moira Donegan

Role at the time: Columnist

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"more encouraged by Ossoff’s pugnaciousness"
Why we used this label

Approval with reservations.

Aaron Parnas

Role at the time: Attorney and political commentator

Challenged the characterization

Responding to

Jon Ossoff’s “travel with Natalie” remark insinuated that Donald Trump and Natalie Harp were having an affair.

"All Jon Ossoff said was that Donald Trump wants to fly with Natalie."
Why we used this label

Direct challenge to the characterization that the statement itself alleged an affair.

David Axelrod

Role at the time: Democratic political strategist

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"I thought that the attack was tough, fair, pointed. I thought the ‘with Natalie’ part was gratuitous and unnecessary and distracted and detracted from the attack."
Why we used this label

Expressly splits approval of the political argument from disapproval of the personal phrasing.

Jonathan V. Last

Role at the time: Editor and commentator at The Bulwark

Challenged the characterization

Responding to

Jon Ossoff’s “travel with Natalie” remark insinuated that Donald Trump and Natalie Harp were having an affair.

"The Trump people assumed that Ossoff meant that Trump was having some sort of untoward relationship with Natalie Harp."
Why we used this label

Rejects the affair frame while defending scrutiny of the official relationship.

Stephen Miller

Role at the time: White House deputy chief of staff

Condemned

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"This is among the most vile things I’ve seen in American politics."
Why we used this label

Strong direct condemnation, preserved through contemporaneous reporting.

The Wrath of MAGA (opens in a new tab)Opening section and Stephen Miller reaction

Robby Starbuck

Role at the time: Conservative activist and commentator

Condemned

Responding to

Jon Ossoff’s “travel with Natalie” remark insinuated that Donald Trump and Natalie Harp were having an affair.

"Jon Ossoff is a vile coward for insinuating they’re having an affair."
Why we used this label

The clearest direct articulation of the affair interpretation.

Scott Jennings

Role at the time: CNN political commentator

Condemned

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"What a coward. Own your sexist joke, bro."
Why we used this label

Directly condemns the wording as sexist.

Abigail Jackson

Role at the time: White House spokesperson

Condemned

Responding to

Ossoff’s remark was sexist and misogynistic because it reduced a female White House aide’s professional role to a sexual implication.

"This misogynistic attack from Jon Ossoff was disgusting."
Why we used this label

Unambiguous condemnation of the remark’s gendered implication.

Older statements

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White House executive assistant and longtime aide to President Donald Trump.

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United States senator from Georgia.

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