CNN’s Jake Tapper broke from the mainstream narrative on Thursday, choosing not to endorse Kamala Harris’s latest attack on Donald Trump. Harris had seized on Trump’s recent statement that he would “protect women whether they like it or not” as proof that Trump “does not respect the freedom of women,” but Tapper called her interpretation misleading. With polls showing the race in a dead heat, Harris and Trump are both grasping for any rhetorical edge, making this exchange especially noteworthy in the final days of the campaign.
After Joe Biden referred to MAGA supporters as “garbage” earlier this week, Trump countered by hopping aboard a garbage truck at a rally in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Harris capitalized on a comedian’s joke at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally—calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage”—to mobilize Puerto Rican voters in swing states. But her latest claim, that Trump’s “protect women” comment proves his disregard for women’s autonomy, was too much for Tapper to take seriously.
Harris, speaking to reporters in Madison, Wisconsin, accused Trump of not respecting women’s freedom, citing his past comments on abortion and women’s rights. “He does not believe women should have the agency and authority to make decisions about their own bodies,” Harris said. “This is the same man who said women should be punished for their choices. He simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to know what is in their own best interest and make decisions accordingly.”
Tapper, however, pushed back, finding her characterization exaggerated. “He was talking about protecting women, protecting women whether they like it or not,” Tapper explained. “Certainly you can take issue with the language, but he wasn’t saying he was going to do whatever he wanted, regardless of… you know,” Tapper trailed off, emphasizing that Harris’s portrayal seemed to misrepresent Trump’s actual words.
CNN’s Jake Tapper fact-checks Kamala on Trump’s statement about protecting women: “Quote him accurately” pic.twitter.com/ZXCLPvSJ0p
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Tapper’s exchange with a guest on his show underscored the unusual turn of events, with the guest noting that “some would say” Trump’s language came off as paternalistic. “But it’s not as she presented it,” Tapper countered. “Just quote it accurately!”
Trump’s comments stem from his push to narrow the gender gap among female voters, a demographic he hopes to win over. Speaking in Wisconsin, he shared that his advisors had cautioned him against using language about “protecting women,” saying it could sound politically incorrect. But Trump remained firm, telling his supporters, “I want to protect the women of our country, whether the women like it or not.”
With both campaigns pushing hard on contentious issues, Tapper’s defense of Trump’s remarks is a rare instance of CNN questioning Harris’s approach. It highlights just how charged every word is in the lead-up to Election Day, as both candidates try to sway undecided voters on issues of freedom, respect, and protection.
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