Donald Trump: Sexual assault allegations are part of a Mexican billionaire's conspiracy with The New York Times

Donald Trump thinks the women who came forward against him are part of a massive media-Mexican conspiracy

By Matthew Rozsa

Staff Writer

Published October 14, 2016 1:19PM (EDT)

Donald Trump poses with Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez and Miss Teen USA Stormi Bree Henley at Trump Towers in New York City, March 31, 2010.   (Getty/Mike Stobe)
Donald Trump poses with Miss Universe Stefania Fernandez and Miss Teen USA Stormi Bree Henley at Trump Towers in New York City, March 31, 2010. (Getty/Mike Stobe)

Donald Trump is now attacking The New York Times for covering sexual assault allegations against him by bringing up the name of the “foreigner” who “rescued” the newspaper: a Mexican billionaire.

Carlos Slim is one of the world’s richest men. Last December  he was ranked fifth on Forbes' list. Slim became the largest single investor in the Times in January 2015, when he exercised warrants that more than doubled his stake in the publishing company.

Slim and Trump have locked horns before. When Trump launched his presidential campaign with comments that suggested undocumented Mexican immigrants are more likely to be rapists, Slim cancelled a television project that one of his companies had been working on with Trump. One of Slim’s spokespeople characterized the comments as racist, while The Washington Post thoroughly debunked Trump’s claims.

Although there is no evidence that Slim’s motives were anything other than financial, Trump has a history of bringing up the ethnic background of powerful Mexicans and Mexican-Americans whom he views as threats. In June he accused U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel — who will preside over a fraud case against Trump University — of having an “absolute conflict” because of his “Mexican heritage.” Trump has even gotten into trouble with members of the Hispanic community when he has tried to praise them, such as his controversial tweet in May proclaiming, “I love Hispanics!” while eating a taco salad (a hybrid dish probably invented in the States).

On Friday morning, Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, said that there will "be more evidence" coming out which would "call into question" the allegations.


By Matthew Rozsa

Matthew Rozsa is a staff writer at Salon. He received a Master's Degree in History from Rutgers-Newark in 2012 and was awarded a science journalism fellowship from the Metcalf Institute in 2022.

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2016 Donald Trump Donald Trump Donald Trump Sexual Assault Allegations Elections 2016 Mexicans