This column originally appeared in The Amendment, a biweekly newsletter by Errin Haines, The 19th’s editor-at-large. Subscribe today to gain early access to her insights.
Five days prior to the election, Donald Trump proclaimed to his fervent supporters that he aimed to “protect the women of America” as president.
“I said, well, I’m gonna do it — whether the women like it or not,” Trump said, mentioning that some of his campaign associates deemed the statement “inappropriate.”
In his first month of presidency, Trump initiated executive actions he asserts align with his promise. He claims he is fulfilling his inaugural address commitment to “end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every facet of public and private life.”
On the day of his inauguration, he mandated that the federal government will acknowledge only two genders to “defend women’s rights.” He prohibited transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports under the pretense of safeguarding girls’ “safe and fair” involvement, signing the order on National Women and Girls in Sports Day with mothers and daughters present. Additionally, his administration has sought to suspend federal funding, essential for nonprofits aiding abuse victims, and has erased data pertaining to maternal mortality, women’s workforce participation, and violence against Native women from federal platforms.
Trump has nominated men to his Cabinet who have faced allegations of sexual assault — former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, his initial choice for attorney general; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. All three have denied any wrongdoing.
A recent Economist/YouGov survey revealed that 64 percent of Americans — 69 percent of men and 60 percent of women — back Trump’s executive order regarding transgender athletes. Interestingly, among those who voted for Kamala Harris, 36 percent support the directive, in contrast to 93 percent of Trump voters. This suggests that even among those who disapprove of him overall — with an approval rating of 46 percent in this poll — there is agreement on this matter.
This order’s popularity stands in stark contrast to the small number of transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, with many viewing it as a politically motivated solution to a non-existent problem, targeting a minority group for political leverage.
At the conclusion of his first month in office, I sought to understand how women voters perceive Trump’s vow to protect women and whether they believe his actions since assuming office align with his campaign rhetoric.
Atlanta resident Jaime Graham, 47, does not recall Trump’s comments from that October rally. She stated that his views on women did not influence her voting decision, yet expressed her satisfaction with his recent executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports. “The women’s sports issue was very motivating for me personally,” Graham said, citing her 8-year-old daughter’s involvement in sports. “I’m glad he addressed it. A lot of the issues I observe are excess that has been brewing. He’s somewhat correcting the course on matters that shouldn’t have been an issue in the first place.”
Diana Henneuse, 60, who voted for Kamala Harris, hoped that Trump would dedicate his first month to uniting Washington, establishing a competent administration, and tackling issues like the economy or airline safety. In the past month, this Bellevue, Washington resident, working in public school administration, has conversed with her husband and female acquaintances, including her college-aged daughter, expressing collective “worry and fear.”
She refrains from discussing politics with friends she suspects voted for Trump. When asked if she believes Trump has acted to safeguard women since taking office, Henneuse chuckled.
“I have never felt that Donald Trump cares one ounce about women,” she asserted. “I have never felt protected by him. He disregards our rights. His actions over the years attest to that. He should be addressing other issues instead of acting to appease his supporters.”
Henneuse is concerned about the women and girls potentially affected by Trump’s executive orders, particularly those targeting the U.S. Agency for International Development program providing foreign aid and his executive orders against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the federal government. She conveyed that his actions diverge from “human rights” and are “out of sync with society right now.”
The Economist/YouGov poll revealed that 45 percent of Americans favor DEI programs, against 36 percent who oppose them. Support among women stands at 50 percent, compared to 41 percent of men.
“He’s attempting to eliminate federal jobs … which employs many minority women,” Henneuse remarked, referring to Trump’s offer for a buyout for federal workers, nearly half of whom are women, and about 20 percent are Black. “Washington is a highly diverse city. The message is: we don’t value you.”
Anne-Marie Ashe, a Black woman who voted for Harris, indicated that her group chat has been abuzz with news about the administration. She shared that since Trump took office, she feels increasingly guarded and perceives his actions as “overwhelmingly aggressive.”
“It’s almost a full-on attack against women,” said Ashe, 38, who operates a real estate brokerage in Washington, D.C., expressing particular concern regarding the president’s attempts to dismantle DEI programs. “Many individuals will lose their jobs, making survival or advancement in their careers exceedingly difficult,” she commented. “It feels as though all progress is being rolled back with the stroke of a pen, reflecting the views of a single individual while disregarding the value of their lives.”
Ashe stated that the executive mandates regarding trans individuals seem personal to Trump, rather than being aimed at benefitting the American populace. She hopes that as his presidency unfolds, he will consult women to understand their concerns. “There might be changes needed, but simply involving us in discussions about what would be advantageous or identifying elements that are working would be helpful,” she expressed. Ashe feels that her experiences as a Black woman are undervalued.
Graham believes that gender issues had progressed too far in a direction she disagrees with. She feels terms like “birthing person” erase her identity as a woman and mother and acknowledges progress for women in her lifetime. “We don’t need anyone’s assistance; just refrain from actions that harm us,” Graham stated. “There was a lot of injustice occurring; I no longer feel that way.”
However, Graham views the participation of transgender athletes in sports as “an injustice.” With fewer than 10 transgender athletes competing in women’s collegiate sports among over 500,000 student athletes, according to the NCAA, she remains unaware of her daughter having played sports alongside any trans girls. She believes a universal solution is essential.
“I would love to grasp the rationale behind their inclusion in locker rooms and private spaces,” she remarked. “I still don’t see the reasoning behind that. They didn’t seek collaboration; it wasn’t conducted in a manner that assured comfort for all.”
Women and LGBTQ+ individuals indeed face genuine safety concerns in workplaces, public venues, military settings, college campuses, and from intimate partners — which affects their full participation in public life. Government has tried to address these risks with anti-discrimination policies. DEI programs have primarily benefited White women, granting them access to segments and roles previously dominated by White men.
Thus far, one of the most significant consequences of Trump’s actions has been a state of disorder for children and adults seeking gender-affirming care, medical practitioners providing it, nonprofits combating domestic violence, federal employees, those pursuing diversity in workplaces, and efforts addressing sexual assault in the military. Trump is advocating for certain notions of how he envisions the country’s future.
