Steph Solis

USA TODAY

The latest controversy surrounding Donald Trump has blown up on social media, and it's not about taxes or his comments about a fallen Muslim soldier.

It's about women's rights in the workplace — or, more specifically, about how Trump would react if his own daughter, Ivanka Trump, experienced the kind of sexual harassment that Ailes allegedly inflicted on multiple female employees while he was Fox News CEO.

Ailes, 76, has resigned since several Fox News employees reported being harassed by Ailes, from former Fox & Friends co-host Gretchen Carlson to star Megyn Kelly.

Trump says he hopes Ivanka would quit if she got harassed: Kirsten Powers

USA TODAY's Kirsten Powers asked the GOP presidential nominee in an interview last week, "What if someone had treated Ivanka in the way Ailes allegedly behaved?"

His response? “I would like to think she would find another career or find another company if that was the case."

It was startling, she said, "even by Trumpian standards."

Powers isn't the only one questioning Trump's defense of Ailes. Laura Bassett of The Huffington Post wrote that while Trump might find it "very sad" that these women have complained about Ailes, "what is even more sad is Trump’s failure to realize that when men with authority abuse their power, it too often entrenches a culture of fear, silence and powerlessness."

Others questioned why Trump suggested the onus would be on Ivanka in such a scenario.

Trump has faced backlash on multiple fronts over the weekend, from his reaction to criticism from Khizr andGhalaza Khan, the parents of Muslim soldier who died serving in Iraq, to his claims that the Clinton campaign is using the NFL games to "rig" thedebate to his assertion that Russia won't continue to invade Ukraine if he becomes president.

In any other election year, the GOP nominee's attention would turn to the next phase of campaigning with support from throughout the party. Instead, the Trump campaign, facing blowback from Republicans, appears to be putting out multiple fires as a result of his tell-it-like-it-is strategy.





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