Kamala Harris slams Donald Trump’s “Like It or Not” comment about women

Vice President Kamala Harris has slammed former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks, claiming he would “protect women whether they like it or not.”

Harris said Thursday that such statements reflect Trump’s lack of understanding of women’s rights to make their own decisions about their bodies and lives.

“By the way, I think it’s offensive to everybody,” Harris said before embarking on a day of campaigning in the battleground states of Arizona and Nevada.

At a meeting in Phoenix, she further emphasized her point, saying, “He simply does not respect women’s freedom or women’s intelligence to know what is in their own best interests and make decisions accordingly. But we trust women.”

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Trump’s comments come as he has struggled to connect with female voters.

Harris actively woos women across party lines with a message centered on the importance of personal freedom, particularly regarding reproductive rights.

She argues that under a Trump administration, women could face increasing restrictions on their choices.

At a rally in Green Bay, Wis., on Wednesday, Trump mentioned that his aides had advised him to refrain from using the term ‘protector’ because it was ‘inappropriate’.

Jennifer Lopez

But he added: “Well, I’m going to do it whether the women like it or not. I’m going to protect them.”

The remarks became a focal point for Harris’ campaign.

Harris’ rally in Las Vegas featured a special introduction by actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, who spoke about the importance of women in this election. “I believe in the power of women,” she said, stressing that women have the ability to make a significant difference at the polls.

She also addressed comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who had disparaged Puerto Rico at a Trump rally, claiming: “You can’t even spell American without rican. This is our country too.”

Trump’s previous appointments of three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn federal abortion rights have continued to reverberate in discussions about women’s health and safety.

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Harris linked Trump’s rhetoric to his overall approach to reproductive rights. While Trump often discusses protecting women from crime and foreign threats, his portrayal of the country as a place in decline stands in stark contrast to Harris’ message of empowerment.

“I’m going to protect them from migrants coming in. I’m going to protect them from foreign countries that want to hit us with missiles and lots of other things,” Trump said at the Green Bay rally.

Before heading into a rally in Henderson, Nevada, Trump responded to billionaire Mark Cuban’s comments on ABC’s “The View,” in which Cuban suggested that Trump does not surround himself with strong, intelligent women. Trump dismissed Cuban’s remarks as “very wrong” and called him a “fool” and a “BIG LOSER” in a social media post.

Trump’s position on abortion has been inconsistent, with previous statements suggesting that women should be punished for seeking abortions, while he has also highlighted the judicial appointments that led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Recently, he has indicated that he is willing to veto a national abortion ban and instead favor state-level regulation.

The patchwork of state abortion laws has resulted in significant challenges for women seeking medical care, with reports of women experiencing serious health complications due to restrictive laws. Maternal and child mortality have increased in this context, which draws attention to the consequences of the current policies.

As early voting progresses, data from research firm TargetSmart reveals that 1.2 million more women than men have voted in the seven battleground states, though this does not guarantee a shift in political power.

In the 2020 election, 55 percent of women supported the Democrats, indicating the potential for women’s votes to play a decisive role in the upcoming election.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.