17- Opinion (State, National, or International Issues)

 

Reigniting the “childless cat lady” discourse surrounding Donald Trump’s campaign, a key ally of his went after Kamala Harris on Tuesday for not having biological children. During a town hall she moderated for Trump in Flint, Michigan, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders talked about her daughter innocently criticizing Sanders’ appearance, saying “my kids keep me humble". “Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble,” Sanders said.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders swipes at Kamala Harris for not having biological children - ABC News

The remark seemed to be a reference to Harris’ lack of biological children. Harris is a stepmother to two children from her husband Doug Emhoff. And his family, including his ex-wife, has spoken glowingly about Harris’ role in helping parent his now-adult children. Even one of Trump’s senior campaign advisers, Bryan Lanza, took Sanders’ comment that way, joining other panelists on CNN after the town hall in condemning the remark.

“I found that comment to be actually offensive. I don’t know what more to say about that,” Lanza said. “I’m disappointed in Sarah saying that. I’m sure I’m going to get criticism from the campaign, but I have to sort of defend somebody who’s a stepmom. It’s a tough job. People step into that role.”

Sanders’ comment was the latest example of a prominent ally of Trump — who long has struggled with women voters — seemingly disparaging women who don’t have children. His own running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, faced criticism and earned extensive negative news coverage for comments he made in a 2021 Fox News interview bemoaning that the country was, in part, run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”