November of 2020 is just under two years away and the crop of Democratic candidates who will take on President Donald Trump in the 2020 election continues to grow.
Among them is Kirsten Gillibrand. The New York Senator is currently touring the country to speak with voters and potential supporters.
On Tuesday, Senator Gillibrand tweeted an article asserting that—though some might think it's risky—she's running "unabashedly as a mom." She's likely right about the risk, considering a cultural climate in which the vast majority of male presidential candidates (and subsequent presidents) in the past have had children, but only female candidates have had to grapple with questions pitting parenthood against the presidency.
Some might say that running unabashedly as a mom is risky. Not to me. Parents have skin in the game for the country… https://t.co/D94PsplnGD— Kirsten Gillibrand (@Kirsten Gillibrand) 1550592634.0
However, the President's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., thought the assertion was hogwash. It wasn't long before he let Gillibrand know.
Said no one ever... if you think running as a parent is edgy delete your account and your campaign. https://t.co/8PmzxR9r4i— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1550619933.0
Don Jr. wasn't ready for the replies.
@DonaldJTrumpJr The only reason your daddy, @realDonaldTrump knows your name is because it’s his. He also knows… https://t.co/8HJzJN32vZ— GringaDiaries (@GringaDiaries) 1550646765.0
@DonaldJTrumpJr .@SenGillibrand had a baby while in Congress, working until THE DAY SHE WENT INTO LABOR. You just a… https://t.co/or3ehDl8w7— Victoria Brownworth (@Victoria Brownworth) 1550628279.0
@DonaldJTrumpJr And if you think running, as a parent, away from your children to be with your mistress is edgy, de… https://t.co/HAK0tmTyN1— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1550622253.0
@DonaldJTrumpJr Oh honey, no. You brought up parenting and thought that would go your way.— Catherine (@Catherine) 1550623422.0
But it was Gillibrand's response that was by far the most effective.
Rather than getting dragged into a Twitter confrontation with one of the website's most infamous personalities, the Senator from New York simply replied with a link for supporters to donate.
https://t.co/nKcdxOJAhY https://t.co/UuzYwJN6pP— Kirsten Gillibrand (@Kirsten Gillibrand) 1550622139.0
And donate they did.
@SenGillibrand @DonaldJTrumpJr this one’s for you! https://t.co/lD57tO5UQJ— Kat Zambon (@Kat Zambon) 1550622835.0
@SenGillibrand I like this Kirsten. This got another donation from me.— Cecilia (@Cecilia) 1550622349.0
@SenGillibrand This pushed me into recurring donor territory. Keep going, @SenGillibrand. Rooting for you.— Holly Dowell (@Holly Dowell) 1550623921.0
@SenGillibrand Brilliance in tweeting and you got a few bucks from me for it. 😂— Phil(lacks pizzazz)lip (@Phil(lacks pizzazz)lip) 1550626899.0
@SenGillibrand @DonaldJTrumpJr thanks for the reminder ✅ https://t.co/WnB4tzK6Vt— Melinda (@Melinda) 1550634710.0
Thanks, Junior!