Sexism debate

Trump “protects women whether they like it or not”

US presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Wisconsin(Bild: Associated Press)

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has once again caused a stir with a comment at a campaign event. He would protect women "whether they like it or not". His advisors had previously advised him not to say this as it was "inappropriate".

There are various allegations of sexual assault against Trump. Last year, a New York court ruled that he had assaulted, sexually abused and later slandered the US author Jean Carroll in a New York department store in 1996. During the 2016 presidential election campaign, a video of Trump's vulgar remarks about women also made headlines. These included the statement that they should be grabbed between the legs.

Criticism of the Republican's rhetoric has now come from US Vice President Kamala Harris, but also from within his own ranks. Women could decide for themselves about their own lives and their own bodies, said Harris, for example. "I think that's very offensive to women."

US Vice President Kamala Harris(Bild: APA/AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Team: "Help for families"
"This masculinity stuff" makes women uncomfortable, said former presidential candidate Nikki Haley. "Women are going to vote. They care about how they are spoken to (...)."

Trump's campaign team responded evasively. "Women deserve a president who will secure our nation's borders, drive violent criminals out of our neighborhoods, and build an economy that helps our families thrive," it said in a statement.

Trump's running mate J.D. Vance came under fire in the summer for his statements about childless women. The father of three also said that leading Democratic politicians are "childless cat women" in 2021.

Next Tuesday's election will be a neck-and-neck race between Harris and Trump.