Donald Trump has moved from belittling Muslims to belittling Muslim women.
During a New Hampshire rally Monday morning, the Republican frontrunner briefly spoke about his belief that the United States imposes its own version of Western democracy upon cultures that don’t necessarily want it.
Citing failed interventions in Libya and Iraq, Trump suggested it has been futile to try to export “freedom” to Muslim countries. Then he went on to demean Muslim women.
“I saw somebody say ‘We want it over there where the women don’t have to wear the you-know-what,’” Trump told the crowd, wiping his hand in front of his face to mimic the look of a burqa.
“And then I saw women interviewed,” he continued. “They said, ‘We want to wear them, we’ve worn them for thousands of years. Why would anyone tell us not to?’ They want to!”
Many Muslim women have explained their desire to wear the conservative garb as an expression of their own faith and feminism. But Trump couldn’t just leave it there.
“Fact is, it’s easier,” Trump said. “You don’t have to put on makeup. Look how beautiful everyone looks. Wouldn’t it be easier? Right? Wouldn’t that be easy?”
“I tell ya, if I was a woman, I don’t want to,” he continued. “I’d be like, bwah [gesturing the burqa], ‘I’m ready, darling, let’s go.’ It’s true!”
