Women lose their voice with Trump

Since Donald Trump took credit for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, health care and abortion have taken center stage in national discussions. The upcoming election is crucial for empowering women to assert their right to speak and vote on a fundamental issue — reproductive rights. Now is the time for women to stand up and be heard.

Roe v. Wade, established in 1973, granted women the constitutional right to abortion. However, since this ruling was overturned, countless stories have emerged of women facing life-threatening situations because the laws in their states forbid them from accessing abortion care, even when their lives or their babies’ lives are at risk.

In an attempt to appeal to moderates, Trump has recently shifted his position, claiming that he believes the decision should be left to the states. However, this shift seems disingenuous given his past actions and statements, which proudly supported the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe.

JD Vance, a prominent figure within the Republican Party, similarly stated in 2022 that he “would like abortion to be illegal nationally.” Now, like Trump, he has adjusted his stance to appear more moderate, likely due to political pressure. Vice President Kamala Harris has consistently maintained that this is a decision to be made by women, not by the state. The Democratic presidential ticket, led by Harris, has remained steadfast in its support for restoring a woman’s constitutional right to make her own health care decisions. President Joe Biden and Harris have consistently advocated for access to basic health care for everyone.

The hypocrisy of Trump and his supporters becomes glaringly apparent when they decry government overreach in areas like COVID-19 restrictions or the right to bear arms, yet support government control over women’s bodies. Audiences, especially women, do not want the government making personal decisions on their behalf. By taking away a woman’s right to choose, they are stripping away a fundamental right and allowing the government to dictate personal matters. This double standard is not just contradictory but also dangerous, as it selectively applies personal freedoms based on political convenience.

The issue of reproductive rights also intersects with another significant debate: the rights of children born to immigrant mothers. These young women and mothers aspire to participate in a society that embraces them and offers the American dream.

Trump has publicly changed his position on abortion, shifting from bragging about his role in overturning Roe to claiming a more moderate stance. He does this because he and his speeches are often manipulative, aimed at securing votes rather than working in the best interests of families. Our daughters do not stop being our daughters when they’re old enough to get pregnant. As mothers, we continue to worry about their welfare. None of us would want our daughters to endure the life-and-death situations women across the country are facing now because of Trump’s role in limiting women’s reproductive rights.

Trump does not care about our children, just as he does not care about the children born to immigrant mothers. He is both unwilling and incapable of providing a clear and coherent vision on many issues in this political debate, particularly regarding reproductive rights. He lacks empathy and dismisses the advice of medical and scientific experts, believing he alone has the best judgment. He also aims to secure the votes of his extreme Christian base and donors.

You are the best judge of what is right for you — not Trump. Support the candidate who supports your right to choose. Harris supports women’s reproductive health care. Trump does not.

Martha Duncan is a retired Army Reservist and senior executive from the Department of Defense, whose career spanned nearly four decades.