Women take center stage in campaign finale
Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
What happened
Kamala Harris slammed Donald Trump Thursday for vowing to "protect the women" of America "whether the women like it or not." Trump allies, meanwhile, said they were outraged by a pro-Harris ad telling married women they can keep their vote secret from their Trump-loving husbands, and by Harris supporter Mark Cuban saying "you never see" Trump "around strong, intelligent women — ever" — because "they're intimidating to him."
Who said what
Trump's "like it or not" comment at a rally Wednesday "was another hairpin turn that took the presidential race from literal trash talk to gender issues in its closing stage," The New York Times said, each candidate "trying to inflict political wounds." Trump "simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to know what's in their own best interests and make decisions accordingly," Harris said in Phoenix. "But we trust women."
Trump's "comments evoked, for many critics, the numerous sexual misconduct allegations against him and his history of misogynistic remarks," including his infamous "Access Hollywood" hot-mic conversation, now getting a second life on TikTok, The Washington Post said. On the other hand, "some female supporters of the former president see the protector line as reassuring."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The pro-Harris "what happens in the booth stays in the booth" ad, produced by a liberal evangelical Christian group and narrated by Julia Roberts, drew particular ire from Trump allies Charlie Kirk and Fox News' Jesse Watters, who said secretly voting for Harris was "the same thing as having an affair."
What next?
Cuban said his comment about Trump and "strong, intelligent women" was referring to Nikki Haley, Trump's former GOP primary rival. Haley told Fox News' Bret Baier on Tuesday she's just waiting for Trump's call to campaign for him. But his "bromance and masculinity stuff, it borders on edgy to the point that it's going to make women uncomfortable," she added. "That is not the way to win women."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 1, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - election on the brain, Bannon emerges, and more
By The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'United States of Anxiety'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Kamala Harris' muted support for gun restrictions
The Explainer How would the Glock-owning Democratic nominee approach America's contentious gun debate?
By David Faris Published
-
How GOP election denial thrives in 2024
In the Spotlight Cleta Mitchell aided Donald Trump's efforts in 2020. She's back.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Supreme Court allows purge of Virginia voter rolls
Speed Read Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is purging some 1,600 people from state voter rolls days before the election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Shale is crucial to the US economy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Donald Trump sees himself as 'protector' of Israel
The Explainer What does that mean for the war in Gaza?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published