Donald Trump is facing a challenge with women voters and is actively working to win their support.
During a town hall broadcast on Fox News in Georgia on Wednesday, Trump answered questions from an all-female audience and a female moderator, Harris Faulkner.
Throughout the event, Trump proclaimed himself the “father of IVF,” complimented a female senator as a “fantastically attractive person,” and addressed a direct question regarding his stance on abortion.
Audience members, reading their questions from cards and often admitting to feeling nervous, inquired about childcare, immigration, and the economy—topics familiar to the former president.
Addressing inflation and the cost of living, Trump pledged to expand fossil fuel drilling in the U.S. to reduce energy costs. In response to a question about the high costs of raising children, he supported child tax credits and proposed their expansion.
When the discussion turned to fertility treatment, Trump faltered. He claimed, “I’m the father of IVF,” which his campaign later clarified was a joke. He mentioned consulting Republican Alabama Senator Katie Britt about the treatment, describing her as “a fantastically attractive person.” Trump assured that the Republican Party supports in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
This incident highlighted Trump’s vulnerability with female voters. Democrats have criticized him, pointing out that he appointed Supreme Court justices who overturned national abortion rights, potentially endangering IVF access. Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized the negative impact of Trump’s actions on women and families.
Women have been skeptical of Trump since his first presidential run in 2016, except for a notable exception: white women, who exit polls suggest supported him in 2020.
The town hall on Fox News provided Trump with a favorable platform to try and improve his image among women. One participant expressed confidence in Trump’s future efforts for women, while another challenged his stance on abortion, asking, “Why is the government involved in women’s basic rights?” Trump navigated his response carefully, taking credit for ending nationwide abortion rights but advocating for state-level decisions on abortion policy.
Polls indicate Trump still lags behind with women voters in 2024. A New York Times/Siena College poll from late September to early October showed 56% of likely women voters supporting Harris, compared to 40% for Trump. Among Black women, Harris had a commanding lead, with 83% backing her and only 12% supporting Trump.
The gender gap is significant in Georgia, a crucial battleground state where the race is closely contested. Harris leads Trump among women voters in Georgia by 10 points, 54% to 44%, according to an Emerson College/The Hill poll.
Trump recognizes the need to improve his standing with women voters. He has repeatedly stated at rallies that women like him, dismissing criticisms about his struggles with this demographic. He aims to pivot issues like immigration, crime, and the economy—areas where he typically performs well with voters—into topics that resonate with women.
At a recent rally in Pennsylvania, another key battleground state, Trump said, “The women are going to like Trump. They don’t want millions of people coming through our border. They don’t want militaries pushing us around. They don’t want crime in the middle of our streets…They want to see a country that works.”
Kim Pelletier, a 57-year-old Republican from Pennsylvania, believes Trump will prioritize female voters. “I personally think he’s going to do a heck of a lot more for women than has been done in the past three and a half years,” she told the BBC.
Susanne Green, another Pennsylvania Trump supporter, appreciates his immigration policies but cautions that his demeanor can be off-putting. “We don’t like his harshness, we don’t like the mean tweets, the rudeness. We don’t like him making fun of other people,” she said. She believes focusing on his policies would earn him more support from women. “Sometimes things he says are cringeworthy and I don’t like it,” she added. “But on the other hand his policies are effective and are what we need now.”
