During a press conference in the Oval Office, Donald Trump responded to a seemingly simple but politically charged question: “What is a woman?” His response defined a woman as someone who “can have a baby under certain circumstances.” Trump further added that women are “much smarter than men” and that they “don’t give a man even a chance of success,” a statement met with laughter. He also remarked that women have often been “treated very badly,” referencing transgender women competing in women’s sports—an issue he had addressed by banning trans women from female sports teams through an executive order.
Hypocrisy in Women’s Rights: Trump’s Misconduct and Restrictive Gender Definitions
Trump’s comments on women being treated unfairly carry a level of irony, given his own history of alleged sexual misconduct. In 2023, he was found liable for sexual abuse, battery, and defamation against author E. Jean Carroll, with a judge clarifying that his actions met the common definition of rape. Beyond this case, at least 27 other women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. His phrasing about pregnancy happening under “certain circumstances” takes on a darker undertone when viewed in light of these allegations.
Trump’s Gender Comments Clash with His History of Misconduct and Restrictive PoliciesOn his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order that legally defined a woman as an “adult human female” and a female as “a person belonging, at conception, to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell.” This definition aligns with a strict biological view of sex but disregards the complexity of gender identity and the diversity of reproductive anatomy. Many experts argue that gender is not solely determined by biological sex and that Trump’s rigid definition erases the experiences of intersex and transgender individuals.
Exploiting Transgender Athletes to Fuel Division and Gain Political Support
Trump has repeatedly used transgender athletes as a central issue in his culture-war rhetoric. He claims to be protecting women’s sports, but experts point out that the number of transgender athletes in elite competitions is minuscule and does not pose a real threat to fairness in sports. His administration’s focus on this issue appears to be more about rallying conservative voters and scapegoating the transgender community rather than addressing genuine concerns affecting women.
While Trump presents his policies as a way to protect women, critics argue that his rhetoric has only made life more dangerous for all women. His focus on transgender issues has fueled transphobia, leading to increased harassment and violence against both transgender and cisgender women. By empowering extremists who seek to police gender and identity, Trump’s approach does more harm than good, making women less safe rather than more protected.