Trump Touts Women’s Support Amid Abortion Debate in NC \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Donald Trump returned to North Carolina, appealing to women voters while positioning himself as a stronger advocate for them than Kamala Harris. He distanced himself from gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson after allegations of inappropriate posts surfaced. Trump downplayed abortion as a key campaign issue, suggesting it is now a state matter.
Trump Rallies in North Carolina Quick Looks
- Appeals to Women Voters: Trump pitched himself as a better champion for women than Kamala Harris, claiming his presidency would make them safer, happier, and more prosperous.
- Distancing from Mark Robinson: Trump avoided mentioning Robinson during his speech after reports surfaced of Robinson’s alleged offensive posts, though Robinson denies the accusations.
- Abortion Stance: Trump downplayed the abortion debate, saying women “won’t be thinking about abortion” since it is now a state issue post-Roe v. Wade.
- GOP’s Tight Race in North Carolina: Both Trump and Harris are in a tight race in North Carolina, while gubernatorial candidate Robinson is trailing Democrat Josh Stein in the polls.
- Supporter Loyalty: Despite the allegations against Robinson, Trump supporters dismissed the controversy, continuing to back both Trump and his surrogates.
Deep Look
Donald Trump returned to the campaign trail in North Carolina on Saturday, using his rally in Wilmington to court women voters and present himself as a stronger advocate for them than Vice President Kamala Harris, who is aiming to become the first female president. As he campaigned in this crucial southern battleground state, Trump emphasized his belief that women would thrive under his leadership, suggesting that his policies would bring unprecedented safety and prosperity for women across America.
In his speech, Trump declared that women “will no longer be thinking about abortion” under his presidency because abortion decisions have been left to individual states following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Many Republican-led states have since implemented stricter abortion laws, including North Carolina, which passed a 12-week abortion ban last year, overriding Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s veto.
Trump, who appointed three of the six justices that voted to overturn Roe, attempted to downplay the issue, noting that women would be better served focusing on their safety and well-being. “I will protect women at a level never seen before,” Trump promised. “Their lives will be happy, beautiful, and their lives will be great again.”
However, recent polls suggest that the majority of voters, especially women, overwhelmingly favor Kamala Harris over Trump on abortion rights. A survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that 55% of respondents trust Harris more on the issue of abortion compared to just 27% who back Trump. Harris and down-ballot Democrats have been vocal about the dangers of restrictive abortion laws, sharing stories of women who suffered severe complications because doctors hesitated to provide necessary care out of fear of legal repercussions.
The rally took place without Trump’s key North Carolina ally, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, the GOP’s nominee for governor. Robinson’s absence follows a recent CNN report accusing him of making offensive posts on a pornography website’s message board. The posts allegedly contained lewd and racist remarks, though Robinson has denied the claims, labeling them “salacious tabloid lies” and affirming that he will not be driven out of the race by such accusations.
Despite being one of Trump’s most prominent surrogates in North Carolina, Trump did not mention Robinson during his hour-long speech. His campaign appeared to distance itself from the controversy, releasing a statement that emphasized Trump’s focus on winning the White House while omitting any reference to Robinson.
Democrats have seized upon the scandal, highlighting Trump’s ties to Robinson in ads and billboards across the state. Harris’ campaign even launched its first ad in North Carolina, tying Trump to Robinson and emphasizing Robinson’s support for a statewide abortion ban without exceptions. The ad is part of a broader effort by Democrats to leverage abortion rights as a critical issue in the upcoming election.
Robinson’s inflammatory remarks on abortion, including his controversial suggestion that women seeking abortions “weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down,” have also become a point of contention. His earlier comparison of abortion to slavery has further alienated moderate voters in a race that is proving challenging for the GOP. Polls show Robinson trailing behind Democratic nominee Josh Stein, North Carolina’s attorney general.
Still, Trump’s supporters in Wilmington were undeterred by the recent controversies surrounding Robinson. Many attendees dismissed the allegations against Robinson as unfounded, including Charlie Kimball, a 46-year-old Trump supporter from Burgaw. Kimball shrugged off the allegations as “fake news,” asserting that “it’s all hearsay” and lacking in proof. This sentiment reflects the resilience of Trump’s base, which has historically been quick to dismiss controversies involving their candidates.
Despite his absence from the rally, Robinson has been a key figure in Trump’s North Carolina campaign, appearing alongside the former president in events across the state. Trump has repeatedly praised Robinson, going as far as comparing him to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. “I think you’re better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two,” Trump declared at a previous event, showing the depth of their political alliance.
With both Harris and Trump making multiple stops in North Carolina, the state has become a focal point for both campaigns. North Carolina has traditionally leaned Republican in presidential elections, with Trump winning the state in both 2016 and 2020, though his margin of victory in 2020 over Joe Biden was less than 1.5 percentage points, the closest in any state Trump won. Democrats see the state as winnable, and Harris’ campaign is pouring resources into the region, particularly as the gubernatorial race heats up.
Wilmington, where Trump held his rally, is located in New Hanover County, a key battleground where Biden won by a slim margin in 2020. Trump’s campaign hopes to sway voters in the area, particularly as support for Biden has faltered following his departure from the race. Trump’s focus has now shifted fully onto Harris, framing her as his primary opponent in a race that is expected to be highly competitive.
Trump’s rally also featured a softer moment when he brought two of his grandchildren on stage. Carolina, the daughter of Eric Trump and Lara Trump, a North Carolina native, enthusiastically shouted “Make America great again” into the microphone, while her older brother Luke urged the crowd to “vote for Grandpa.” The family-centered gesture drew cheers from the audience, providing a brief reprieve from the campaign’s heated political rhetoric.
As the battle for North Carolina continues, abortion rights and the controversy surrounding Robinson are shaping up to be critical issues for both parties. Democrats are eager to capitalize on the GOP’s divisions and controversial candidates, while Trump is banking on his enduring popularity with his base to carry him through to another victory in the Tar Heel State.
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