Commentary

Donald Trump’s overwhelming victory over Kamala Harris is history, but his success in capturing the votes of women isn’t broadly known. He won 49 to Harris’ 48 percent of women in the 45-64 age group and posted double-digit gains in the 18-29 and 30-44 age groups despite claims by the DNC that his record on issues of importance to women was “abysmal.”

Yet Trump selected nine women as Cabinet secretaries and other top positions, including press secretary, counselor to the president, surgeon general and the first woman to serve as White House chief of staff.

Unlike Joe Biden, who had a race, gender and nationality check list, Trump clearly picked people who he had confidence in.

“The most powerful woman in America,” is how Trump often refers to his Chief of Staff Suzie Wiles, 67, who is credited for being with him for his sweeping victory.  He has also said, “she’s tough, smart, innovative, and universally admired and respected.”

While the public only gets a rare view of her, several cabinet members have already received a lot of airtime on TV, while dealing with agenda issues.

As Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem wasted no time joining ICE agents on raids in New York City and elsewhere.  Attorney General Pam Bondi, too, has made it known that things are changing at the DOJ, most recently threatening extensive jail time for those convicted of domestic terrorism.  Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence, has actively sought out sources of leaks and has taken away the security clearances held by a number of former intelligence officials.

Not all Women Pleased

Unbelievably, some women are opposed to Trump’s executive order specifying that there are just two genders when it disenfranchises no one.  In fact, it restores to women the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause.  It also shields religious objectors to gender orthodoxy from being discriminated against for simply following the dictates of their conscience.

There are also women who oppose the president’s executive order to keep men out of women sports.  Why? Maine’s Democrat Gov. Janet Mills had the audacity to challenge Trump on it during a televised White House Governors’ Conference.

Informing her that he would cut off federal funding to her state, she said, “see you in court.”  However, when the Agriculture Department, headed by another woman, Brooke Rollins, paused $175 million in funding, the University of Maine relented and complied with the order.  Governor Mills has yet to apologize as Trump insisted.

Then there’s Boston’s Democrat Mayor Michelle Wu, who recently doubled down on her vow, during her third annual State of the City Address, to protect illegal immigrants from deportation. New York’s Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul similarly challenged Trump on deportation.

Wu politicized her position against Trump by sarcastically stating, “No one tells Boston how to take care of our own.  Not kings, and not presidents who think they are kings. Boston was born facing down bullies.”

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell surfaced this week with a message on Tik Tok.  She wanted us to know she is “sleeping better” since moving to Ireland just days before Trump’s inauguration.  Unlike other celebrities, O’Donnell at least followed through with her pronouncement.

 She says she’s “very happy” and “grateful” that she chose to move, though she misses her kids, her friends and many things about life there at home she is seeking Irish citizenship.

There are a number of women, who have access to a microphone and camera – Rachel Maddow, Mika Brzezinski, Nicole Wallace, and the ladies of The View – and Congresswomen – Maxine Waters, Ayanna Pressley, and Jasmine Crockett to name a few – who are ready attack Trump or Elon Musk at the mere sight of a microphone.  Crockett called for the “takedown” of Musk on her birthday, March 29.

We haven’t heard the last from NEA President Randi Weingarten, who has had choice words for both Trump and Musk over the dismantling of the Department of Education.

Then there’s Lawrence O’Donnell, appearing with MSNBC’s Maddow acting like a member of the weaker sex, telling her he’s exhausted covering just the first 52 days of the second Trump term. “I’m going to take next week off,” he said.  If they were alive today, Edward R. Murrow and Ernie Pyle would have a big laugh.

I recognize that women, like men, aren’t necessarily on board with every Trump move. That’s natural.  I know of a woman who was at least excited to hear of Trump’s interest in pardoning former Cincinnati Red Pete Rose.

May God bless the roles women play in the New Golden Age.