On The Lead, CNN’s Jake Tapper fact-checked Vice President Kamala Harris over a claim she made about former President Donald Trump’s statement regarding his intent to “protect women.” Harris suggested that Trump’s words were about imposing restrictions on women’s reproductive rights, specifically abortion, but Tapper clarified that Trump’s remarks were actually about protecting women and children from criminal migrants and foreign threats, not abortion rights.
The issue stemmed from comments Harris made at a rally in Phoenix. She told the crowd that Trump’s phrase, “protect women whether they like it or not,” was an indication of his disregard for women’s autonomy, linking it to abortion policies.
“Now in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, many with no exceptions, even for rape and incest, which is immoral,” she said. “And Donald Trump’s not done. Did everyone hear what he just said yesterday? That he will do what he wants, ‘whether the women like it or not.’ … He does not believe women should have the agency and authority to make decisions about their own bodies.”
Tapper, however, played Trump’s original comments for his panel, showing that Trump was discussing immigration and national security, not abortion. Trump’s actual statement addressed his views on protecting women and children from criminal threats and national security risks, specifically mentioning criminal migrants and missile threats. According to Tapper, Trump’s remarks were in reference to keeping Americans safe from dangers posed by illegal immigrants and hostile foreign nations.
“When Trump said he was going to do something for women, whether they like it or not, he was talking about protecting women … whether they like it or not,” Tapper clarified. “Certainly, you can take issue with the language, but he wasn’t saying he was just going to do whatever he wanted, regardless. He’s saying, ‘I’m gonna protect them, whether women want me to protect them.’”
The context around Trump’s comments stemmed from his critique of Harris’s immigration policies. He argued that her approach to immigration — which he claimed allowed violent criminals into the U.S. — posed a significant threat to American women and children.
His original words included a reference to Harris “importing criminal migrants” and allowing dangerous criminals from places like Venezuela and the Congo to threaten Americans. Trump stated, “I’m gonna protect the women and children of our country. I said, ‘Well, I’m gonna do it whether the women like it or not.’ I’m gonna protect them … from migrants coming in. I’m gonna protect them from foreign countries that want to hit us with missiles.”
When members of Tapper’s panel responded critically, questioning whether Trump’s remarks could still be perceived as patronizing or authoritarian, Tapper acknowledged the possible issue with Trump’s tone. Yet he emphasized that Harris’s retelling was inaccurate. “It’s not as she presented it,” he said. “So just quote it accurately.”
The fact-check highlights the ongoing battle over political messaging as candidates on both sides seek to shape public perception ahead of the 2024 election. Harris, in this case, framed Trump’s words to align with her broader message about his impact on women’s rights, especially in states with restrictive abortion laws. Her critique comes amid Democratic efforts to rally support around reproductive rights, with figures like Harris arguing that Trump’s stance represents a broader attempt to undermine women’s autonomy.
Tapper’s fact-check, however, underscores the importance of context. While Harris and other Democrats have pointed to Trump’s policies on immigration and abortion as examples of overreach, Tapper argued that selectively quoting Trump can lead to misinformation.
Tapper’s emphasis on accurate quoting aims to encourage a more nuanced and balanced discussion on critical issues, especially when the rhetoric surrounding immigration and women’s rights is already highly polarized.
The incident has added fuel to the already intense debates about media integrity, the influence of selective quotes, and the power of context in shaping public opinion. With both parties maneuvering to highlight key issues like immigration, security, and women’s rights, the interpretation of comments — and the way they are presented to the public — continues to play a crucial role.
This exchange, brought to light on CNN, reveals the challenges in balancing political narratives with factual reporting, especially as the 2024 election cycle heats up and voters look for clarity on where candidates and leaders stand on key issues.
2 Comments
everyone know .. she is a liar … vote Trump 2024
Even Her accent lies.