Harris criticizes Trump’s comments on women, reigniting abortion debate in final campaign push

Vice President Kamala Harris rebuked former President Donald Trump on Thursday for his recent remarks on women, describing them as “very offensive” and seizing the moment to draw attention to abortion rights as the race tightens in key western states.

The two candidates, locked in a narrow battle for the White House, focused their campaigning efforts on battlegrounds with high Latino populations, emphasizing issues of immigration and gender just five days before voting concludes on November 5.

Trump, clad in a black overcoat and his signature “Make America Great Again” cap, delivered a stern message to his supporters in New Mexico. He characterized immigration as a national crisis, alleging that migrants are “unleashing a violent killing spree all across America.”

Meanwhile, Harris offered a contrasting message, bolstered by pop icon Jennifer Lopez, who joined her on stage in Las Vegas. The Democratic vice president criticized Trump’s Wednesday remarks in which he pledged to “protect” American women “whether the women like it or not,” branding his comments as “offensive to everybody.”

At her rally in Phoenix, Harris took aim at Trump’s stance on reproductive rights. “Trump does not believe women should have the agency and authority to make decisions about their own bodies,” she asserted, drawing cheers and chants of “Si se puede” (“Yes we can”) from the crowd.

Reproductive rights remain a cornerstone issue for the Democratic campaign, while also serving as a potential pitfall for Trump. The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling to end federal protections for abortion rights has mobilized Democratic voters, especially women, with recent polls showing a pronounced gender divide. While women are leaning towards Harris, Trump continues to draw more support from male voters, making the issue of abortion a possible determining factor in the election outcome.