Donald Trump’s relationship with adult film star Stormy Daniels has been fodder for the news for years. From the eyebrow-raising payments that sparked an investigation into Trump’s financial affairs to the salacious details of their alleged affair, Trump’s comments about Daniels have been much discussed. In this article, we’ll look at what the former President of the United States has said about Stormy Daniels over the years.
Background on Stormy Daniels
Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is an American adult film star, screenwriter, and director. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1979, Daniels began working as a stripper while in high school and got her start as an adult film actress in 2002. Since then, she has won multiple awards and become one of the most recognizable names in the industry.
Daniels made headlines in 2018 when it was revealed that she had accepted a $130,000 payment from Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen in the run-up to the 2016 election. The payment was intended to keep Daniels from discussing an alleged affair she had with Trump a decade earlier.
What Trump Said about Stormy Daniels
From the initial reports about Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels’ alleged relationship up to and including his time in office, the former President of the United States has shared his thoughts on the matter. Here’s what Trump has said about Stormy Daniels over the years.
Public Denials of the Alleged Relationship
When the initial allegations of an affair with Daniels first surfaced, Trump denied it ever happened, and his lawyer also denied that any payment was made to keep Daniels quiet. In an interview on “60 Minutes” in 2018, Trump flatly denied any relationship with Daniels. He also told reporters that he wasn’t aware of the payment, though he later acknowledged he had been.
When asked about the payment to Daniels during a press conference in April 2018, Trump said, “You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You’ll have to ask Michael.”
Changing Stories Over Time & Switching the Narrative
In the months leading up to the 2020 election, Trump changed his tune. In an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity in January 2020, Trump acknowledged the payment to Daniels but insisted that it was “now known to be false” and accused Cohen of manufacturing the story.
Trump’s shifting explanations were a running theme throughout the final weeks of his presidency. In one interview in December 2020, he was asked if he ever had a relationship with Daniels and he said, “No. I don’t even know who she is.”
Insulting Statements
Trump has not been shy about making insulting statements about Daniels in the past. In May 2018, Trump referred to Daniels as “Horseface” in a tweet, sparking widespread condemnation from both parties.
In another tweet in October 2018, Trump called Daniels “a total con” and said that she had “begged” his lawyer for money for her client, referring to her former lawyer, Michael Avenatti. Trump also called Daniels “disgusting” and a “third-rate hired gun.”
Attacked During the 2020 PresidentialCampaign
Despite the initial denials, Trump attempted to make Daniels a central figure in his 2020 presidential campaign. In one tweet in October 2020, Trump accused Daniels of coming to his office “for the money” while he was on the campaign trail and said that she had previously “absolute disaster” during her 2016 presidential campaign.
He also tried to use the allegations of her alleged affair to sow doubt in Joe Biden’s character. At a campaign rally in October 2020, Trump said that “Biden did a very bad thing. He was disrespecting women, he was weak and gullible, and Stormy Daniels was paid off by him.”
Attribution of Motivations & Disdain for Avenatti
Trump has also made insinuations about Daniels’ motivations, claiming that her story was “made up” and that she was “making it up for money.” He also criticized Daniels for working with her former lawyer Michael Avenatti, calling Avenatti a “lowlife” and accusing him of “running a Ponzi scheme.”
Donald Trump’s relationship with Stormy Daniels has been well-documented for years and has been the subject of much speculation. Over the years, the former President has had plenty to say about Daniels, from denying the relationship to lobbing insults and attacking her and her former lawyer. As the spotlight on Trump’s relationship with Daniels dwindles, it’s clear that Trump’s comments on the matter will remain a part of his legacy.
