President Donald Trump has told reporters it is a “difficult” and “scary” time for young men in the US.
Mr Trump’s remarks came as he reiterated his support for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is battling sexual misconduct claims by several women.
A vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh has been delayed as the FBI investigates the claims, which he denies.
Mr Trump said he believed the Senate would approve the judge.
His appointment would be expected to tilt America’s top court in favour of conservatives for years to come.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: “My whole life I’ve heard, ‘you’re innocent until proven guilty’, but now you’re guilty until proven innocent. That’s a very, very difficult standard.
“It’s a very scary time for young men in America when you can be guilty of something that you may not be guilty of.”
The president said he was waiting to see what would come out of the FBI investigation into his top court pick, and he did not want to “interrupt” anything.
At a rally later in Southaven, Mississippi, Mr Trump mocked last week’s Senate testimony by Prof Christine Blasey Ford, without mentioning her by name.
She says Judge Kavanaugh, 53, assaulted her when they were teenagers.
