During a recent all-woman town hall on Fox News , former President Donald Trump made an attempt to address the gender gap in his voter base, which has steadily grown since his 2020 campaign. Trump discussed issues such as reproductive rights and transgender participation in sports in hopes of bridging this gap. His efforts, however, appeared disconnected.
Polling from earlier this year revealed that fewer women plan to vote for Trump in the upcoming election compared to 2020. With the possibility of Vice President Kamala Harris becoming the first female president, Trump’s gender gap problem has only worsened. In September, Harris led Trump by a significant margin among women voters—58 to 37 percent. Back in April 2024, before Harris stepped in as the Democratic presidential candidate, Biden was leading Trump by 16 points among women, capturing 53 percent of the vote compared to Trump’s 37 percent.
At the town hall, when asked about abortion rights, Trump reiterated his long held stance that the matter should be left to the states. He then added that some existing abortion laws are “too tough” and may need to be “redone,” creating further ambiguity around his stance.
Trump’s inconsistency on abortion has become evident on the issue, which deeply affects women voters. Recently, he stated he would vote against an amendment to Florida’s constitution aimed at overturning the state’s six-week abortion ban—a law he had previously criticized as too harsh. These conflicting signals have left both pro-choice and pro-life voters uneasy.
Abortion has become one of the most decisive issues of the 2024 election, particularly for younger women. Since Harris entered the race, the issue of abortion has surged to the top of concerns for women under 30, surpassing inflation as their primary issue.
Recent polls show that 6 in 10 Americans believe that their state should allow abortion if a person does not wish to continue their pregnancy. Trump’s aforementioned unclear messaging on abortion could severely weaken his support among these voters as Election Day draws nearer.
What’s more, Harris’s candidacy has energized voters. Among Harris’ supporters, 62% express strong support for her, compared to just 43% of Biden supporters who strongly backed him before Harris took over as the candidate. Since June, the share of Democratic women who reported being satisfied with their presidential options has risen by 39%, and a similar increase has occurred among Black women. This surge in enthusiasm is translating into political action, with many women feeling more motivated to vote than in previous elections, largely due to Harris’s presence on the ticket.
Republican women, meanwhile, have seen a decline in satisfaction and motivation since the summer, a troubling sign for Trump. Even among women who might agree with his policies, his inconsistent support on key issues like abortion is leaving many disillusioned.
Despite Trump’s controversial reputation, the growing gender gap he faces isn’t solely about his divisive persona. Much like in 2016, the idea of a female president has once again split male and female voters. While competing against a female opponent may pose inherent challenges, relying on muddled and wishy-washy rhetoric is hardly the best strategy for Trump to navigate this divide.
Acknowledgment: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author
