Trump: Women Won’t ‘Think About Abortion’ if He Becomes President

Former President Donald Trump is adopting a new strategy aimed at winning over women voters, a demographic where he currently trails in polling. During a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Monday, Trump positioned himself as a “protector” of women, asserting that if he regains the White House, concerns over abortion will diminish. This statement comes despite his previous remarks boasting about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, which established the constitutional right to abortion.

During his speech in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Trump claimed that women today are “poorer, less healthy, less safe, more stressed, depressed, and unhappy” than they were four years ago. He stated, “I want to be your protector. As president, I have to be your protector.” This rhetoric appears aimed at addressing the significant challenges women face as the election approaches.

Continuing to promote his abortion policies, Trump expressed confidence that women “will no longer be thinking about abortion.” He emphasized his achievements in appointing three U.S. Supreme Court justices who supported the decision to overrule Roe v. Wade. “It is now where it always had to be, with the states and a vote of the people,” he noted, suggesting that the matter has returned to local governance where voters can directly influence policies.

Abortion remains a pivotal issue for voters, particularly women, in the forthcoming election. Both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are striving to connect with constituents on this topic in what is anticipated to be a closely contested race in November. Recent polling indicates Trump has a notable lead among men but lags behind Harris among women, who favor her by nine points according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll.

Trump’s assertion that women will “no longer be thinking about abortion” is not a new visitor to his campaign messaging. He reiterated this claim during a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, saying, “Women will be happy, healthy, confident, and free.” He articulated that the control has now shifted to the states and encouraged women to trust in the people’s vote.

In attempting to appeal to women voters, Trump is navigating a landscape fraught with challenges, particularly following a jury finding him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. Additionally, his history of controversial comments about women complicates his outreach efforts. In rebuttal to Trump’s statements on protecting women, the Harris campaign remarked that “Trump snapped,” asserting that women recognize his attempts as misguided. Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for Harris, stated, “Women aren’t stupid,” emphasizing that women will vote based on their rights and freedoms.

Harris, who has the chance to become the first female president, recently highlighted abortion policy during campaign events in Georgia. She criticized Trump’s position on abortion, arguing that it is incongruous to support women and children while also advocating for bans on abortion. Polling data indicates Harris is gaining traction nationally, leading Trump slightly at 48.3% to his 45.6%, with some polls showing Trump leading in critical battleground states like Arizona and North Carolina.

At Trump’s events, women have shared their mixed feelings about his comments. Sarah Cooper from Wilmington, North Carolina, expressed that while abortion is important, it is more appropriately managed at the state level. Another attendee, Laura Hinton from Rocky Point, revealed her “mixed emotions” regarding abortion, stemming from personal experiences with medical procedures. Nevertheless, Hinton indicated that her views on abortion would not deter her from voting for Trump, appreciating his approach of returning the issue to state governance.

The contrasting perspectives regarding abortion highlight the broader challenges each candidate faces in appealing to women voters. As the election date draws closer, both Trump and Harris will likely continue to address the multifaceted issues surrounding women’s rights and reproductive health in their campaigns.

Source: ABC News