Donald Trump has a problem with women voters. And he is now on a campaign to win them over.
At a town hall airing on Fox News on Wednesday he took questions from an all-woman audience and from a female moderator, Harris Faulkner, in the battleground state of Georgia.
Trump Tells All-Woman Town Hall
During the event, Trump declared himself to be the “father of IVF”, praised a female senator as a “fantastically attractive person”, and faced a pointed question about his abortion stance.
Reading their questions from cards, with many admitting feeling nervous during the pre-recorded event, audience members asked about childcare, immigration, and the economy – all familiar ground for the former president.
When it came to inflation and the cost of living, Trump promised to expand fossil-fuel drilling in the United States and “bring down your energy costs”. To a woman asking about helping parents with the high costs of raising children, Trump backed child tax credits and said he would expand them.
When asked about fertility treatment, however, Trump stumbled. “I’m the father of IVF,” he declared. His campaign later said he was joking. He went on to say that he had asked Republican Alabama Senator Katie Britt to explain the fertility treatment to him, describing her as “a fantastically attractive person”. He also said the Republican Party stood firmly behind in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments.
But the moment underscored Trump’s vulnerability with female voters. Democrats have hammered him on the issue, noting that he appointed US Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn national abortion rights – and arguing that opened the door to challenges to IVF.
“The reality is, his actions have been very harmful to women and families in America on this issue,” his opponent, Vice-President Kamala Harris, said on Tuesday.Asked by reporters what she thought of Trump’s IVF comment, she described it as “quite bizarre”.
Taken as a whole, women have been sceptical of Trump since his first run for the White House in 2016. There has been one exception: exit polls suggested he won with white women in 2020.
Trump did not provide specific details to support his claim of influencing IVF, which has been a well-established fertility treatment since the first “test-tube baby” was born in 1978. However, he appeared to credit his administration with expanding access to healthcare and modernizing the medical field, including advancements in reproductive technologies.
The town hall, which was part of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, was aimed at strengthening his support among women voters, a group he has struggled to win over in past elections. The all-woman format allowed Trump to address concerns directly, with many questions focusing on issues such as maternity care, women’s rights, and economic opportunities for women.
Despite the lighthearted moment when Trump referred to himself as the “father of IVF,” the event had more serious tones as well. Trump defended his record on women’s issues, pointing to tax cuts, economic growth, and efforts to boost job opportunities for women during his presidency. He also touched on controversial topics like abortion rights, emphasizing his pro-life stance while arguing that his policies had helped women in other areas of their lives.
Reactions to Trump’s claim varied. Some attendees found the moment humorous, while others criticized it as a stretch, with many pointing out that IVF has been around for decades and that Trump had little to do with its development.
Political analysts noted that the comment was likely an attempt by Trump to connect with women voters by taking credit for improvements in healthcare that took place during his administration, even if his involvement with IVF specifically is unclear.
“Trump’s messaging here is focused on showing he cares about women’s health, even if his specific claim is debatable,” said political commentator Jennifer Martin. “It’s part of his broader strategy to appeal to suburban women and families.”
Despite his efforts to woo female voters, Trump faces challenges in this demographic, particularly after past controversies involving his comments about women and policies that many view as harmful to women’s rights.
As Trump continues his campaign, moments like this town hall demonstrate his ongoing effort to recast his image and present himself as a champion for women, even as many remain skeptical.
With the 2024 election heating up, Trump’s comments at the all-woman town hall are sure to spark more discussion about his appeal to female voters and how he positions himself on issues like healthcare and family planning.
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