WASHINGTON DC, USA – US Vice President Kamala Harris took direct aim at former President Donald Trump on Thursday, October 31, 2024, criticising his recent assertion that he would be a “protector” of women “whether they like it or not.”
Harris denounced the statement as “very offensive to women,” arguing that it reflects a deep-seated lack of respect for women’s autonomy.
The remarks came as Harris campaigned in Wisconsin, responding to Trump’s controversial comment made at a rally in Green Bay.
Speaking to reporters, Harris expressed dismay, saying, “It actually is, I think, very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their right, and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies.”
She continued, “And this is just the latest in a series of reveals by the former president of how he thinks about women, and their agency.”
Kamala Harris criticizes Trump for saying he’ll be a protector of women “whether the women like it or not”:
“It actually is … very offensive to women in terms of not understanding … their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies.” pic.twitter.com/hsxUoahs2r
— The Recount (@therecount) October 31, 2024
Trump’s comment, which some interpreted as dismissive of women’s personal autonomy, was initially spurred by feedback from his campaign staff.
The former president told a Wisconsin crowd on Wednesday that his team had advised him against using the term “protector” when speaking about women, saying it might be “inappropriate.”
However, Trump shrugged off the warning, responding with apparent defiance. “I pay these guys a lot of money, can you believe it?” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
“And I said, ‘Well, I‘m going to do it whether the women like it or not. I’ve gotta protect them.’”
Harris’s comments add to a growing chorus of female advocates and public figures calling attention to Trump’s record on issues affecting women.
In a high-profile speech last week, former First Lady Michelle Obama urged American women to make their voices heard at the ballot box, underscoring the stakes in this election.
“Women standing up for what is best for us can make the difference in this election,” Obama said.
“So let us use our voices in these final days to make it plain to the men in our lives that we need to stand not with Trump, but with us. We need them to vote for the only candidate in this race who will protect our lives. We need them to vote for Kamala Harris.”
The back-and-forth between Harris and Trump marks the latest skirmish in an election cycle increasingly focused on women’s rights, particularly around abortion.
Trump has frequently touted his contributions to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, ending federal protection of abortion rights.
Earlier this month, he declined to rule out the possibility of endorsing a national abortion ban if re-elected, reiterating on Fox News that the end of federal abortion protection “is what every Democrat and Republican wanted.”
