‘Women love me!’ Trump brushes off polls showing struggles with female voters as he is 14% behind Harris

On Friday, former President Donald Trump brushed off recent polls that show him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris among women voters. Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump rejected the significance of the data, confidently stating, “Women love me,” while dismissing the negative results as “nonsense.” He also noted that the issue of abortion has been the primary obstacle preventing stronger support from women.

Abortion: The Key Issue

During his appearance, Trump acknowledged that the issue of abortion has significantly impacted his standing with women. “Without abortion, the women love me,” he declared, emphasizing that his stance on the matter is a central factor in the divide. Abortion has remained a top issue for women voters since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade—a move enabled by Trump’s appointment of three conservative justices.

Trump Defends Abortion Stance

Trump defended his administration’s actions regarding abortion, reiterating that he shifted the decision from the federal government back to the states. “I’ve taken this issue out of the federal government and put it back to the states where they’re voting,” he said. While affirming his support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is in danger, Trump acknowledged that not all states have included these exceptions since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Harris Capitalizes on Abortion Debate

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris has made abortion rights a central plank of her campaign, repeatedly criticizing Trump’s role in the reversal of Roe v. Wade. In Wisconsin on Thursday, Harris hit back at Trump, declaring, “No Donald, everybody did not want Roe v. Wade to be overturned.” Her campaign continues to leverage this issue to galvanize women voters, as polls show her leading Trump by double digits among this demographic.

Republican Strategists Urge Trump to Boost Female Support

With a notable gender gap looming in the upcoming election, Republican strategists have urged Trump to seek the help of prominent GOP women, particularly former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, to improve his support among female voters. When asked if Haley could join him on the campaign trail, Trump responded that he would do “whatever he has to do,” while asserting that Haley is already “in” and supporting him.

Nikki Haley’s Role Still Developing

Despite endorsing Trump after their GOP primary battle, Haley has yet to campaign alongside him. Reports suggest she is in discussions to take a more active role, but for now, she remains on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Harris continues to court Republican women who supported Haley, positioning herself as an alternative to Trump in hopes of gaining further traction in the final stretch of the campaign.