Politicians Who Treat People Like Trash

The following article contains references to homophobia, ableism, and sexual assault.

"It's my personality that has gotten us this far," Jonah Ryan utters in HBO's "Veep." If there's one thing that Jonah and the politicians on whom he is based know all too well, a genial personality will go a long way in politics. And, as Jonah also knows, hurling one insult too many will no doubt incur the ire of the public and aides alike. But what makes "Veep" so hilarious is that it's a sharp satire. As deliciously odious as the characters may be, most viewers will agree that they are narrative constructs. Or so we thought.

The truth is, politicians are supposed to represent the people. A politician's job entails an approachable demeanor, heeding the inquiries of the public, and being sympathetic to the concerns of ordinary citizens. Subsequently, political leaders are meant to act in the public's best interest; there is an implicit expectation for them to avoid contention, and to outright eschew personal attacks on people even in the face of fierce criticism. Carrying oneself with restraint and decorum is, therefore, expected of any political figure. Alas, this expectation isn't always met. The individuals on this list have been accused of harboring utter contempt for members of the public, and even their own families.

From making threats to journalists, to spewing invective at their enemies — not to mention some sordid personal scandals — these politicians are believed to treat people like trash.

Ever since Ryan Murphy's revelatory series "American Crime Story: Impeachment" landed on our screens, there has been renewed interest in the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky affair of 1998. The then-president engaged in sexual acts with White House intern Lewinsky when she was just 22 years old. In an essay for Vanity Fair, Lewinsky questioned the extent to which a young woman could consent to sex with a man "27 years my senior." She went on to call her dalliance with Clinton "a gross abuse of power."

Unfortunately, Clinton is reportedly still making Lewinsky suffer from the effects of the affair all these decades later. People reports that she was disinvited to a 2018 Town & Country event after Clinton showed up on the guest list. Following the rise of the #MeToo movement, Stephen Colbert described Clinton's actions as "the most famous example of a powerful man sexually misbehaving in the workplace of [Colbert's] lifetime." Lewinsky told "Today" that Clinton "should want to apologize" for his actions, with the former president saying that he doesn't owe her an apology.

Additionally, Clinton has long faced accusations of treating women like trash, including allegations of sexually harassing Kathleen Willey, and a rape claim by Juanita Broaddrick. When these numerous sexual assault allegations resurfaced in 2017, The Atlantic argued: "The women involved had far more credible evidence than many of the most notorious accusations that have come to light in the past five weeks." However, Clinton denies all claims against him (via Business Insider).

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Forget that infamous "Borat 2" scene in which former venerated Mayor of New York-turned-controversy magnet Rudy Giuliani seemingly reached into his pants; it turns out that Giuliani's past behavior is even more outlandish than that particular indiscretion. If countless tales are to be believed, Giuliani is anything but, as Borat would put it, "very nice."

In undoubtedly one of the most bizarre feuds ever to besiege a political leader, Giuliani berated a pro-ferret caller on his radio show (via Observer). The caller, David Guthartz, was angry about a law that made it illegal to domesticize ferrets. Before Guthartz could even get his point across, Giuliani interrupted him, stating, "David, you're on my show. I have the right to talk over you," later declaring, "there's something deranged about you... The excessive concern that you have for ferrets is something you should examine with a therapist. Not with me." When Guthartz told the then-mayor not to insult him, Giuliani utilized some Trumpesque adverbs: "There is something really, really, very sad about you."

As Mayor, it was Giuliani's job to listen to the people of New York. But during a meet and greet (via Esquire), he repeatedly dismissed the concerns of the public. When a woman said she was anxious about being evicted, Giuliani replied curtly, "I don't think I can figure out whether we can help you." The woman continued talking, eventually leading Giuliani to declare, "And I'm glad we didn't help you." Yikes.

It should come as little surprise that a man whose catchphrase was "You're fired" is apparently less than palatable to people. Arguably, one of Trump's most pernicious acts was a display of ableism. In 2015, he appeared to mock Serge Kovaleski, a disabled reporter. As reported by CNN, the Republican hopeful told his supporters, "Now, the poor guy, you ought to see this guy," before seemingly mimicking Kovaleski's mannerisms. "Donald Trump? He makes fun of people with disabilities," senator Tom Harkin told TheWrap. Trump later claimed that he didn't know Kovaleski was disabled, but The Washington Post contends that "Trump is clearly imitating Kovaleski's disability."

Kovaleski isn't the only reporter who has been subjected to Trump's verbal takedowns. In 2018, Trump applauded the assault of journalist Ben Jacobs, who was body-slammed by politician Greg Gianforte, encouraging his supporters to laugh and cheer at Jacobs' ordeal, per The Guardian. "Any guy that can do a body slam... he's my guy," Trump remarked. 

The former president has shown insensitivity in many other contexts. In an interview with ABC, Trump made a dig at Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son was killed in Iraq, erroneously claiming that Mrs. Khan didn't speak during the Democratic National Convention because "maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say." In actuality, Mrs. Khan explained to MSNBC (via NBC News) that she didn't speak because she was too upset after seeing a photo of her late son.

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Despite his slick appearance, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has some pretty disconcerting behavior to his name. In 2008, he berated a man who refused to shake his hand at the Paris International Agricultural Show, as per Reuters. Sarkozy could have utilized the decorum expected of a world leader; Instead, he replied, "Get lost, dumba**." As Reuters notes, this wasn't the first time Sarkozy was rude to a member of the public. He previously threatened a fisherman who apparently insulted him, remarking, "Come down and say that."

In 2010, Sarkozy once again showed how thick his skin is when he called out a man who appeared to wipe his hand after shaking Sarkozy's. "Don't be a wise guy!" Sarkozy angrily retorted, per France24. He also took aim at a sound technician during prep for an interview with France3 (via Euractiv). "When you're a guest you have the right to expect a hello," Sarkozy said somewhat menacingly. "Someone like that should not work in a public service."

The former French president has also been heavily criticized for his treatment of Muslim immigrants. According to The New York Times, Sarkozy "has never been shy about" "immigrant-bashing." In what was perceived as a racist dog whistle, Sarkozy said of French-Moroccan minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, "In the unrelenting quest for mediocrity, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem is in the process of overtaking Christiane Taubira" (via Reuters). Taubira, it should be noted, is Black.

If you or a loved one has experienced a hate crime, contact the VictimConnect Hotline by phone at 1-855-4-VICTIM or by chat for more information or assistance in locating services to help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

Dubbed "Two Jabs Prescott" by the British tabloids, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was heckled and egged by agricultural worker Craig Evans in 2001. Ideally, he would have dealt with the situation with tact, but that's not the former amateur boxer's style. Instead, he grabbed Evans and punched him, as per the Daily Mail. A fight ensued, with the BBC branding it an "undignified brawl." Evans' girlfriend told the BBC, "He's a placid lad who has never been in trouble." She explained, "Craig threw an egg at Mr Prescott... Then Mr Prescott grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and thumped him."

In 2006, Prescott was accused of sexually assaulting the wife of a fellow politician. As reported by The Telegraph, Linda McDougall alleged that Prescott "pushed me quite forcefully against the wall and put his hand up my skirt... From that day I knew what sort of man he was." Prescott denied the serious claims, telling the outlet, "This is the man whose wife accused me of putting my hand up her skirt bloody 30 years ago... Have you seen his wife? Built like a bloody barn door, if I threw her against the wall, the f***ing house would fall down." 

Prescott's response was widely condemned, with The Guardian writing, "Had McDougall been considered attractive by Prescott, perhaps he might have proudly owned up to such atrocious behavior? ... men use all kinds of justifications for sexual assault on women."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

With mass shootings having occurred all over the country, gun violence is no laughing matter. But Richard Daley used it as a means of threatening people. When he was the mayor of Chicago, Daley held a press conference, where reporter Mick Dumke questioned his gun control policies. Shockingly, Daley (pointing at a rifle) replied, "If I put this up your butt, you'll find out how effective this is!" (via Reuters).

According to reports, Daley's mistreatment of the public predates his reign as mayor. Taking allegations of police misconduct seriously is paramount for any politician, but Daley apparently mishandled abuses of power within the Chicago police force. In 1982, when Daley was Cook County's State Attorney, prison doctor John Raba wrote a letter alleging that police had tortured an inmate with electroshock. Daley allegedly admitted that he never replied to the letter (via Chicago Reader).

As noted by the Chicago Tribune, Daley was extremely critical of Jim McTigue, a city worker, publicly castigating and blaming him for Chicago's flooding despite it not being his fault. When Chicago Tribune journalist John Kass, who once deemed Daley a friend, told him that he ought to apologize to McTigue, "The mayor told me he didn't owe McTigue a thing. I told him, respectfully, that he should make the call anyway, to show compassion, and so that city workers who knew the real story wouldn't think the mayor was a jerk. 'That's what your father would have done,' I said. Big mistake." Daley got angry and permanently ended his friendship with Kass.

There's just something about serving as the mayor of Chicago that brings out the fiery temper in politicians. Rahm Emanuel has been accused of treating people like trash and takes his supposed misanthropy to extremes, having earned the moniker "Rahmbo." Emanuel drew first blood when he sent a dead fish to a tardy pollster, with a note stating, "It's been awful working with you," per the Chicago Tribune. For Emanuel, it seems that trolling is like shooting fish in a barrel — quite literally.

Don't expect the contentious antics of Rahmbo to end there, with GQ describing him as a "d*ckish pit viper." According to Chicago mag, Emanuel lambasted financial donors when he was working on Mayor Daley's campaign in the '90s, yelling at one backer that a $5,000 donation was insulting and indicating that a $25,000 or even $50,000 donation was more likely to be accepted.

And his alleged WTF shenanigans don't end there. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Emanuel apparently used a highly derogatory, ableist insult to refer to a group of opposing politicians. 

In the book, "The Thumpin': How Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats Learned to Be Ruthless and Ended the Republican Revolution" (via Newsweek), author Naftali Bendavid claimed that Emanuel once called out the names of various politicians he disliked while stabbing a table and shouting out "Dead Man!" Not a list we'd want to be on.

Eternally controversial Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is, as critics have argued, akin to Trump on steroids. The populist leader has shown little concern for political correctness when addressing minority groups and women. The Intercept chronicled his history of misogyny, including one particularly eye-watering exchange with a female politician. When congresswoman Maria do Rosário gave a speech condemning the military for "murder, torture, sexual abuse, and other violence against dissidents," Bolsonaro took to the podium and called her back, proclaiming, "No, Maria do Rosário, don't leave! Stay here, Maria do Rosário. Stay! I would not rape you. You don't merit that." He mocked her when she left. When the outlet asked him about the incident, Bolsonaro denied it but replied, "Do you think she's good enough to be raped"?

According to The Guardian, Bolsonaro has bragged about his homophobia, even stating that he would physically harm gay people if he encountered them in public: "I won't fight it or discriminate, but if I see two men kissing each other in the street, I'll whack them."

But Bolsonaro's behavior goes beyond offensive remarks: his tirade against the mainstream media has even led to violence against journalists. Reporter Leonardo Monteiro of Brazilian network TV Globo (per O Globo, translated by The Guardian) allegedly "was punched in the stomach and pushed by Bolsonaro's security after asking the president why he didn't attend any G20 events on Sunday."

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

If you or a loved one has experienced a hate crime, contact the VictimConnect Hotline by phone at 1-855-4-VICTIM or by chat for more information or assistance in locating services to help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

Things were looking up for congressman Anthony Weiner when he was running for mayor of New York. Once a highly favored candidate, his popularity plummeted when his true self was revealed to the public.

Weiner's predatory behavior first came to light in 2011 when he reportedly sent women photos of his genitals (per the Los Angeles Times), and it was revealed that he was sexting a 15-year-old child. According to attorney Joon H. Kim, Weiner "asked a girl who he knew to be 15 years old to display her naked body and engage in sexually explicit behavior for him online," as per BBC. He was subsequently put in jail for 21 months and is now a registered sex offender.

Speaking with Inside Edition, the underaged girl expressed that she was repulsed by the politician's treatment of her. "I was disgusted," she said of the whole ordeal. "That's part of the reason I came forward."

Throughout it all, Weiner's long-suffering now ex-wife, loyal Hillary Clinton colleague Huma Abedin, had to face ceaseless public humiliation. "He was my first love, and my greatest soulmate ... Then everything exploded. He didn't just break my heart, he ripped it out and stomped on it over and over again," Abedin told The Guardian in a heartbreaking interview.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

There is supposed to be camaraderie between politicians and the police. It is therefore incredibly alarming to witness a minister seemingly lambasting the officers who are there to protect him and his cohort. In a bizarre, quintessentially British scandal that could only come from across the pond, Plebgate swept the U.K. when politician Andrew Mitchell appeared to assume that the rules don't apply to him.

Plebgate began in 2012 when Mitchell, a Conservative politician, allegedly verbally abused police officers outside 10 Downing Street when they told him to use a pedestrian crossing like everybody else, per the BBC. The officers claimed that Mitchell apparently deemed himself too good to use the very crossing used by the people he represents, and a furious diatribe ensued. In an expletive-ridden transcript obtained by The Telegraph, Mitchell allegedly yelled, "Best you learn your f***ing place ... you don't run this f***ing government ... you're f***ing plebs ... you haven't heard the last of this."

Mitchell denied ever having used the term "pleb," and the officers' recollection of events was soon called into question, but a judge ultimately ruled that "Mr Mitchell did speak the words alleged or something so close to them as to amount to the same including the politically toxic word 'pleb,'" per the BBC.

The Independent argued that Mitchell's conduct "tapped in to a widespread resentment of a Government often regarded as full of arrogant...schoolboys with contempt for the lower orders."

Former Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has been embroiled in so many feuds that even the perennially controversy-prone Donald Trump said that "nobody likes him." In fact, Cruz appears to be so disliked among his peers that one colleague told Mother Jones, "The quickest way for a meeting to end would be for Ted to come in. People would want out of that meeting... It was his inability to be part of the team. That's exactly what he was: a big a**hole." They continued, "I don't know anyone who had a decent relationship with Cruz."

In 2015, he was condemned by fellow Republicans after branding Mitch McConnell a liar. "I would never contemplate going to the floor of the Senate and impugning the integrity of another senator," John McCain lamented (via CNN), adding, "I really think it was a very wrong thing to do."

When he was studying at Harvard, Cruz was reportedly a jerk to his fellow students. One such student told the Boston Globe that "he asked my IQ" and SAT score almost immediately after meeting her. Damon Watson, a former college roommate, hinted at Cruz's elitism, telling GQ, "He said he didn't want anybody from 'minor Ivies' like Penn or Brown." 

And in one truly damning instance involving the military, Cruz insulted U.S. troops, mocking a female Army corporal by tweeting, "Holy c**p. Perhaps a woke, emasculated military is not the best idea" (via The Independent). Cruz control? Ted has none of it.

It would appear that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seeks to punish anyone who speaks out against him. In 2016, former Miss Turkey Merve Büyüksaraç was put on trial after she posted a satirical poem via Instagram, apparently insulting Erdoğan, as per The Guardian. She was found guilty and given a "14-month suspended sentence." The BBC notes that "almost 2,000 people, including celebrities and schoolchildren, have been prosecuted in Turkey for insulting the president." Indeed, a 16-year-old boy faced a potential four-year sentence for insulting the president in 2014.

Moreover, ABC News reported that 13 people, including a child, were detained after taking part in a Women's March where they supposedly shouted "slogans" about Erdoğan. Meanwhile, Erdoğan himself has routinely insulted women, claiming that treating women as equal to men "goes against the laws of nature" (via The Guardian).

And there's one group of people in particular whom critics claim Erdoğan treats like trash: Armenians. The Washington Post contends that he has made a habit of racially attacking Armenian people. The outlet argues that Erdoğan deems the word "Armenian" to be an insult, having told a reporter, "I was called a Georgian. I apologize for this, but they even said [something] worse: They called me an Armenian." Political analyst Richard Giragosian told Turkish newspaper Today's Zaman that Erdoğan "is often using extremely aggressive and bellicose language when referring to the Armenians or Armenian issue."

If you or a loved one has experienced a hate crime, contact the VictimConnect Hotline by phone at 1-855-4-VICTIM or by chat for more information or assistance in locating services to help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

When Winston Churchill described Russia as "a riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma," he didn't bank on Vladimir Putin's flagrant mistreatment of people right in the public eye. Under his leadership, the Russian president has been responsible for implementing laws targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. As Human Rights Watch details, Putin signed the "gay propaganda" law in 2013, which the organization deems "a classic example of political homophobia," one which puts the lives of LGBTQ+ youths at great risk. Putin himself has made his feelings toward the gay community known, telling gay people to "leave children alone please" (via The Guardian).

Putin has let misogyny fly high on more than one occasion. In 2013, he made crude comments toward a group of topless feminist protestors, proclaiming, "I liked it," before reducing the women to "pretty girls" and joking that he "couldn't see if they were blond or brunettes," as translated by NPR. Time reports that he also took a personal dig at Hillary Clinton, saying, "It's better not to argue with women... When people push boundaries too far, it's not because they are strong but because they are weak, but maybe weakness is not the worst quality for a woman."

In a crime that shocked the world, Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned with polonium in 2006 while living in London. When Litvinenko died, The Telegraph notes that Putin said, "Mr Litvinenko is, unfortunately, not Lazarus." Since then, a report concluded that Litvinenko's murder was "probably" approved by Putin.

If you or a loved one has experienced a hate crime, contact the VictimConnect Hotline by phone at 1-855-4-VICTIM or by chat for more information or assistance in locating services to help. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has been accused of unpleasant treatment toward women, including his own wives. According to The New York Times, when Gingrich's first wife, Jackie, was in the hospital receiving treatment for cancer, he went to visit, only to discuss divorce. Classy. She reportedly proceeded to kick him out of the hospital. Apparently, he explained to his friend why he sought a divorce from Jackie: "She's not young enough or pretty enough to be the wife of a President. And besides, she has cancer." Gingrich, however, denies ever having behaved in such a manner.

Speaking with ABC News, Gingrich's second ex-wife, Marianne, claimed that, much like with Jackie, Gingrich filed for divorce soon after she received a serious medical diagnosis. When she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Marianne said that her then-husband was present with her and "was advised by the doctor when I was sitting there that I was not to be under stress. He knew." Yet, Gingrich caused undue stress by seeking a divorce so he could be with his lover, Callista, with whom Marianne alleged her husband was having an extramarital affair. 

Of Gingrich's early political career, Democratic congressman Beryl Anthony Jr. corroborated claims of the politician being widely disliked, telling  Esquire, "He was just full of hate and venom. He was driven mainly by trying to tear down the leadership and gain political power."