In one of his most troubling recent comments, former President Donald Trump made an urgent plea for support from the women of America at a Pennsylvania rally on Monday night: “I will be your protector.”
Actually, if you missed it, his extended remarks really are worth your time. “I am your protector. I want to be your protector. As president, I have to be your protector,” Trump averred, before warning that the “fake news” will make too much of his words.
“You will no longer be abandoned, lonely or scared…You will no longer be in danger,” he continued. “You will no longer have anxiety from all of the problems our country has today. You will be protected, and I will be your protector.”
Finally, a president who can cure anxiety!
Then, sounding like a snake oil salesman promising a miracle tonic, he added, “Women will be happy, healthy, confident and free.”
And finally, the non-sequitur coup de grace: “You will no longer be thinking about abortion.”
Trump has said many things over the years that could be construed as misogynistic, paternalistic, condescending and even quasi-fascistic. But this one struck me as an underrated example of Trump revealing his dark worldview.
Let’s start with the assumption that politics or a politician can or even should cure our most deep-seated needs and problems. Is that really the proper role of government?
This is Trump supplanting God, spouses, parents and the “little platoons” in society that we all belong to — not to mention the strong self-determination and grit of adult women as fully formed individuals with agency — many of whom can take care of themselves without the help of some white knight like Trump, thank you very much.
The move is a strange one for an ostensibly conservative Republican. A dozen years ago, I was one of many on the right who criticized the “life of Julia” infographic that Barack Obama’s reelection campaign had created and posted online.
As conservative William Bennett lamented at the time, “Julia’s entire life is defined by her interactions with the state. Government is everywhere and each step of her life is tied to a government program. Notably absent in her story is any relationship with a husband, family, church or community, except a ‘community’ garden where she works post-retirement. Instead, the state has taken their place and is her primary relationship.”
In many ways, Trump is promising the same thing — only this time, he (not “big government”) is Julia’s husband, father and savior.
To be sure, we need the government to defend national security, pave roads, jail criminals, protect the border and deliver the mail. It’s a given that progressives envision an even more robust welfare state with more involvement in our lives. But even in that scenario, it is a joint effort of state, local and federal governments — not the beneficence of one strong man.
But at least Trump understands that he is in deep trouble when it comes to women voters, who constitute a majority of the electorate.
This is where he is torn. Trump’s desire to win the 2024 election didn’t stop him from picking a running mate who denigrated “childless cat ladies,” nor did it prevent him from attacking Taylor Swift after she endorsed Kamala Harris. Instead of saying fewer offensive things guaranteed to provoke and alienate women, Trump has decided to go on what he thinks is a charm offensive.
And while there may be women already in Trump’s camp who could be amenable to his wooing, it’s difficult to imagine that his latest remarks will sway skeptical soccer moms or suburbanites, much less Swifties or cat ladies.
Trump is also keenly aware that abortion is a vulnerability for him. This explains why he has vacillated on this issue, including opposing a national abortion ban and Florida’s six-week ban. But rather than addressing this issue head-on, a task that would be painful and difficult, he takes solace in believing that he can manifest a different response via Jedi Mind Tricks.
For example, he keeps repeating the bogus notion that “everybody wanted Roe v. Wade terminated and brought back to the states,” as if repeating the canard will make it so. His latest delusion — “you will no longer be thinking about abortion” — is similarly wishful thinking.
Trump’s promise to protect women and solve all their problems betrays his lack of understanding or concern about the proper role of government. It evinces an assumption that women are weak and will be susceptible to a strong man promising to protect them, and a belief that he can change reality by the sheer force of his will and his words.
In all regards, Trump’s comments are both revelatory and ham-handed. You need not be a feminist to suspect that America’s women will delight in setting him straight on Election Day.
Matt K. Lewis is a columnist, podcaster and author of the books “Too Dumb to Fail” and “Filthy Rich Politicians.”