Generation Z is rediscovering Trump's Access Hollywood video on TikTok

In 2016, when Donald Trump was first elected president, today's 18-year-olds were only 10 years old. So when footage leaked of Trump bragging about sexually assaulting women in this year's truly horrific upset in October, they didn't fully understand what the video meant or know what to make of it, if they were even aware of it.

Now the new Generation Z voters are rediscovering the infamous Access Hollywood Tape, some hearing it in its entirety for the first time. Young TikTokers are making videos in which they react with somber faces to the sound of Trump's band and grimace as he gets to the infamous phrase “Grab 'em by the pussy.” The most popular one has almost 1 million views.

“This is actually soooo crazy,” marvels one commenter on one such video. Another adds: “Why isn't this blown up even more?!” Another: “I can't even process this.” Dozens of them say: “Boost.” You can tell the legions of new viewers and commenters think the tape is important and want more people to see it because it's one of those Trump things that the rest of us mostly don't talk about anymore.

It has become a truism among adults – especially older, bitter Democrats – who have lived through the Trump era that “lol, nothing matters.” No matter how tainted Trump's words and actions, it seems that nothing can match his relentless, can stop exhausting political momentum. That's the power of his countless scandals: so many of them go so far beyond what we naively thought was the limit of acceptable behavior that it's easy to become numb. It's easy to forget Donald Trump's multitude of sins.

But watching Generation Z revisit this particular Trump scandal for the first time is a reminder that Trump's misdeeds, particularly his decades of brazen, unapologetic sexual misconduct, can and should still shock. It's worth remembering the details before we enter the voting booth in 2024, an election in which millions of people will almost certainly vote for a known sex offender and which may end with him back in the White House moves in.

Let's not forget that Donald Trump bragged on the hot mic about sexually assaulting women and bragged, “And when you're a star, they let you do it.” You can do anything. Grab her by the pussy. You can do anything.”

Let's not forget that just last year, Trump was found civilly liable for sexually assaulting journalist E. Jean Carroll, with a jury concluding that the vast majority of evidence suggested he forced himself on her forcefully, not consensually has.

Let's not forget that Trump has been accused of sexual assault by at least 21 other women.

Let's not forget that one of Trump's accusers was his ex-wife Ivana, who testified under oath that he violently and vengefully raped her. (She later said she didn't want her words to be taken “in a literal or criminal sense.”)

Let’s not forget that Donald Trump appointed a Supreme Court justice who was accused of sexual assault by multiple women.

Let’s not forget that Donald Trump chose this judge and two others for the court with the express goal of destroying a woman’s right to reproductive freedom. Let’s not forget that its Supreme Court did what it was designed to do and struck down legal protections for abortion.

Let's not forget that after the court struck down that right, Trump bragged that their decision was “only possible because I did everything as promised, including nominating and confirming three highly respected and strong constitutional lawyers to the Supreme Court.” of the United States.” It was a great honor to do this!”

This is just part of what Trump has done to women. There is much more to remember.

One of the values ​​of a new generation of political actors coming of age is that they can help the rest of us see tired old atrocities clearly again. The moral clarity of youth can be powerful; If the country is on the verge of re-electing a sex offender, that is invaluable.

Maybe nothing matters, lol. But at least let’s not forget any of it.