RNC chairwoman says Trump and Harvey Weinstein are not 'comparable' because Trump 'didn't have women coming forward'
During an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, McDaniel was asked if there was a double standard for Republicans who were blasting Weinstein but had previously defended Trump when the "Access Hollywood" tape was released, which was followed by roughly a dozen women accusing the then-Republican presidential nominee of unwanted sexual conduct.
"It's not even comparable though," McDaniel said. "I mean, Harvey Weinstein brought women up to his hotel rooms. To even make that comparison is a disrespectful to the president. He didn't have eight settlements. He didn't have women coming forward saying ... I mean, Harvey Weinstein admits that he did that. This isn't even comparable."
Blitzer noted that plenty of women came forward to make similar accusations against Trump, who vehemently denied them. Trump apologized for his comments on the "Access Hollywood" tape, calling the commentary "locker room talk."
Blitzer player a clip from the tape to McDaniel on Monday.
"And when you're a star they let you do it," Trump said. "Whatever you want. Grab them by the p----. You can do anything."
"Awful, awful words," Blitzer said after the tape played. "He was still elected president of the United States. ... I'm not comparing what he said now in that 'Access Hollywood' video to what Harvey Weinstein did."
McDaniel said "the difference" was that Trump "apologized for that" and "many Republicans came out and said those comments weren't appropriate."
"The difference is Harvey Weinstein is a major bundler for the DNC," she continued. "They have embraced him. He has admitted to these instances where he put these women in completely inappropriate situations. And we're just saying to the Democrat Party, 'Give his money back. If you really stand for what you say you do, give his money back.'
McDaniel then pointed to 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, saying that "she's been silent" about the Weinstein revelations. Weinstein was a major Clinton donor.
"Her silence is deafening," she said.
Many Democrats have donated the equivalent in Weinstein's donations to them to charity, which McDaniel said she applauded.