Donald Trump continues to alienate key voting demographics, including women of his own political party. His latest attacks on Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, have left many women with a bad feeling about the Republican front-runner.
The feud, which began at the first Republican presidential debate last August, flared up again this week when Trump refused to participate in the upcoming Fox News debate which Kelly will be moderating.
Despite his assurances that he wouldn’t call Kelly a bimbo because “that would not be politically correct,” Trump has continued to call her a “lightweight reporter,” and retweet sexist comments from his supporters.
McKenzie Deutsch, who attends the all-women Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., called the attacks “gross,” and “unprofessional.”
“There should be nothing wrong or unusual about being smart and successful, and feminine and attractive at the same time,” Deutsch argued. “I find it gross and unprofessional that Trump even takes the time to point Kelly out. He’s a prime example of how professional women are held to an extreme double standard.”
“I’m insulted as a woman by Donald Trump’s remarks,” said Missouri College Republican Chair Hannah Beers. “Her physical appearance should never be a talking point, and the fact that he uses terms like ‘bimbo’ to describe a reputable journalist is not only an offense to women, but to American culture.”
Gina Jochimsen, a University of Iowa student and Field Director for Turning Point USA, said Trump’s comments are “completely uncalled for.”
“What Donald is saying about [Kelly] is reasserting what many pundits and voters have been saying how he is disrespectful and degrading to women,” she said, “…the fact that he is verbally attacking her the way he has been shows exactly the kind of person and candidate he is.”
Members of the conservative public policy organization Concerned Women for America (CWA) are no fans of Trump either.
“Young women have been lectured their whole lives against bullying,” said CWA President Penny Nance. “So, when anyone, particularly someone vying for their support, stoops to name-calling and demeaning behavior it’s a huge turn-off. Trump’s name-calling and downright mean-spirited attacks against Megyn Kelly and other journalists have been a turn-off to young women.”
Concerned Women PAC, which works to elect conservative lawmakers, is publicly opposed to Trump, for both his treatment of women, and his wavering pro-life stance.
In a letter to Iowa voters this week, a group of pro-life women activists including Nance, urged Republican caucus-goers and voters to “support anyone but Donald Trump.”
The letter noted, “he has impugned the dignity of women, most notably Megyn Kelly,” however, he has also “mocked and bullied Carly Fiorina, and has through the years made disparaging public comments to and about women.”
