Trump is shocked anyone knows about women’s rights activist
President Donald Trump's introductory remarks at the State Department's Women Empowerment panel grabs the headlines.
On Wednesday, Melania Trump appeared at a panel by the State Department recognizing 13 women for showing courage and strength in the face of adversity, but it was President Donald Trump’s introductory remarks that grabbed the headlines.
“Have you heard of Susan B. Anthony? I’m shocked you’ve heard of her,” he asked the audience attending the women’s empowerment event.
He was almost immediately dragged on the internet for the comment about the women’s suffrage activist, with perhaps the best response coming from Chelsea Clinton, who took to Twitter to say, “Do you think Trump knows Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass were friends? Worked together on universal suffrage? (Knows who they were?).”
Clinton was referencing Trump’s comments during Black History month in which he appeared to suggest that Frederick Douglass was still alive.
Trump also mentioned another prominent woman in American History: Harriet Tubman.
“We’ve been blessed with courageous heroes like Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery — (applause) — and went on to deliver hundreds of others to freedom, first on the Underground Railroad, and then as a spy for the Union Army.  She was very, very courageous, believe me,” he said.
The president ended his remarks by saying, “I want every young person in the audience, those cameras are all over, to know that the future truly belongs to you.”
Melania Trump’s comments marked her first address to a Cabinet department. “These honorees, who have fought on the front lines against injustice, are true heroes,” she said of the women being honored, adding that “there is always hope whenever the human spirit is brought to bear in the service of others.”
