Kamala Harris Trump women’s rights/ Harris Trump women comment/ Trump offensive women comment/ Harris response to Trump/ Trump women’s issues/ Newslooks/ PHOENIX/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump’s recent statement about “protecting women” whether they “like it or not,” calling it offensive and evidence of his disregard for women’s autonomy. As both candidates vie for female voters, Harris emphasized women’s right to make personal decisions and warned of possible restrictions under a Trump administration.
Harris Responds to Trump’s Women’s Rights Comments: Quick Looks
- Location and Context: Harris, campaigning in Arizona, called Trump’s “protect women” comment offensive.
- Trump’s Statement: Trump stated he’d protect women “whether they like it or not.”
- Harris’s Reaction: Harris emphasized women’s right to control decisions about their bodies and lives.
- Broader Campaign: Both candidates appeal to women voters, with Harris focusing on reproductive freedom.
- Public Reaction: Voters at Harris and Trump rallies express polarized views on women’s issues.
- Electoral Landscape: Early voting shows a strong female turnout in battleground states.
Kamala Harris Blasts Trump’s Remarks on Women’s Rights
Deep Look
Vice President Kamala Harris took a strong stand on Thursday against former President Donald Trump’s recent comments about “protecting women” regardless of their opinions on the matter, condemning the remarks as offensive and dismissive of women’s autonomy. Harris, speaking to supporters in Phoenix as part of her final Western campaign push, accused Trump of disregarding women’s rights to make decisions for themselves, especially regarding their bodies and personal health.
Trump’s comments, made at a rally near Green Bay, Wisconsin, drew sharp rebuke from Harris as she rallied voters in Arizona and Nevada, critical battleground states where both candidates hope to sway undecided voters. Trump had joked that his advisors urged him to tone down the “protector” rhetoric, which some considered inappropriate, but he doubled down, stating, “I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not.”
Harris seized on the remarks as indicative of Trump’s broader stance on women’s rights. She highlighted Trump’s history of opposing reproductive rights, particularly after his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn federal abortion protections in 2022. “He simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to know what’s in their own best interests,” Harris said. She also pointed out that women, not politicians, should have the authority to make such personal choices.
Harris’s campaign has consistently underscored the threat they say Trump poses to women’s freedoms. In a Phoenix rally that featured actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, Harris reiterated her message, framing her platform as one committed to ensuring women’s rights. Lopez, a prominent supporter of Harris, introduced her by emphasizing the power and influence women have in shaping America’s future. She also directly addressed recent comments from a comedian at Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden who made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico, asserting, “You can’t even spell American without Rican.”
Trump’s campaign, meanwhile, responded to Harris’s criticism by stressing his commitment to safeguarding American women from threats both foreign and domestic. At his rally in Green Bay, Trump described his protector role more broadly, citing the need to defend women from external dangers, from migrants to international adversaries. The former president’s focus on security echoes his longstanding emphasis on national protection.
The intense debate between the two candidates has also drawn sharp opinions from voters. At a Harris rally in Phoenix, voter Edison Kinlicheenie expressed concern about Trump’s track record with women, calling him “more a threat than a protector.” Meanwhile, Trump supporters like Sarah Pyle in Albuquerque argued that Trump’s stance aligns with her concerns about fairness in women’s sports, particularly around transgender athlete participation.
Further fueling the controversy, Trump has often presented conflicting views on women’s health and abortion rights. While initially pledging in 2016 to appoint justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, he has more recently promised to veto any national abortion ban, leaving the matter up to individual states. However, the lack of federal protections has created significant barriers to health care in many states, resulting in cases of severe medical complications for women in emergency rooms and an uptick in maternal and infant mortality rates. Harris’s campaign has drawn attention to this, releasing an ad featuring a woman who suffered severe health complications during pregnancy, with Trump’s “protect women” comments playing in the background.
The push to engage female voters remains critical for both campaigns as early voting data indicates strong turnout among women, especially in battleground states. According to TargetSmart, 1.2 million more women than men have voted early in seven key states, although it’s uncertain how this turnout will impact the election’s outcome. In the 2020 election, 55% of female voters backed the Biden-Harris ticket, a trend Harris’s campaign is working to replicate or increase in 2024.
Harris’s outreach to women has become a central theme of her final days of campaigning, with high-profile rallies featuring celebrities and influential advocates. Trump, in contrast, has focused on painting himself as a defender of American values and protector of citizens, emphasizing security and stability. As the two candidates make their final appeals, their diverging approaches to women’s issues highlight the stark choices voters face as they head to the polls.
