Harris Lashes Out at Trump for Saying He Will Protect Women ‘Whether They Like It or Not’
Republican candidate Donald Trump, Oc. 30, 2024. X/ @kathrynw5
October 31, 2024 Hour: 1:08 pm
The Republican candidate ignores women’s capacity, authority, right, and ability to make decisions.
On Thursday, speaking to the press in Madison, Wisconsin, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for stating that he will protect women “whether they like it or not.”
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“I want to address what he said about women and whether they like it or not. Frankly, I think it’s deeply offensive to women, as it disregards their capability, their authority, their right, and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies,” Harris said.
The Vice President noted that “this is just the latest example” of a series of comments from Trump about how he views women’s autonomy and claimed that there are increasing signs he will not stand up for women’s reproductive rights.
“He doesn’t prioritize women’s freedom or recognize their ability to make decisions about their own lives and bodies,” emphasized Harris, who has made abortion a central focus of her campaign, pledging to fight for women’s freedom to decide over their bodies, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling to eliminate federal abortion protections.
Trump’s comments in Wisconsin have been criticized by commentators on TV networks for their paternalistic tone and for denying women’s autonomy. For some, they also serve as a reminder of his history of misogynistic remarks, including when he boasted about “grabbing women by their genitals” in a video released during the 2016 campaign, as well as his conviction last year for sexually abusing columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996.
Previously, Trump recounted how his team members had advised him to stop saying that he wanted “to protect women” as it was deemed inappropriate, but he responded to them: “Well, I’m going to do it, whether women like it or not. I’m going to protect them.”
A poll this month by NBC shows a marked gender gap: Harris has 55 percent support among women compared to Trump’s 41 percent. Meanwhile, among men, Trump leads with 56 percent support, 16 points more than Harris.
The same poll revealed that abortion is emerging as the most decisive issue for 22 percent of voters, who stated that this matter will be critical in choosing whom to vote for. Currently, 21 out of 50 states ban or almost completely restrict abortion.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
