Trump Courts Women Voters at Georgia Town Hall, Declares Himself 'Father of IVF'
At a Fox News town hall in Georgia, Donald Trump faced an all-female audience in an effort to win over women voters, a group with which he has struggled. The event, moderated by Harris Faulkner, gave Trump the opportunity to field questions on key issues like childcare, immigration, and the economy. Despite this chance to connect, one of Trump’s more surprising statements was his claim that he was the “father of IVF,” a comment his campaign later said was made in jest.
Trump praised Republican Alabama Senator Katie Britt, calling her “fantastically attractive” while discussing the topic of fertility treatments, and assured the audience that the Republican Party supports in vitro fertilization (IVF). But his remarks highlighted his challenges with female voters, especially as Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, criticized him for his past actions, like appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision some argue could lead to threats against IVF.
Throughout the event, Trump promised to lower energy costs by expanding domestic drilling and advocated for child tax credits as a solution to rising childcare costs. However, on the issue of abortion, he walked a fine line, taking credit for the fall of national abortion rights while simultaneously supporting state control over the matter.
Trump’s popularity among women has been mixed. While he performed well with white women in 2020, polls show he continues to lag behind with women overall in the 2024 race. A recent New York Times/Siena College poll found that 56% of likely women voters supported Harris, while only 40% backed Trump. In battleground states like Georgia, where polls suggest a tight race, Trump faces a gender gap, with Harris holding a 10-point lead among women voters.
Despite these hurdles, Trump remains optimistic. At rallies, he has emphasized his strong stances on immigration, crime, and the economy, topics he believes resonate with women. He’s also made efforts to shift these issues into a more personal, kitchen-table context. Still, even some of his female supporters express reservations about his tone and behavior. While they appreciate his policies, they admit that his harshness and tendency to make offensive remarks are off-putting.
Trump’s challenge going forward will be balancing his policy strengths with a more palatable public persona for women voters. As one supporter in Pennsylvania noted, “We don’t like the rudeness… but his policies are what we need now.”
