Donald Trump has consistently demonstrated a commitment to his agenda, particularly regarding women’s health and rights. While some may dismiss his rhetoric as mere bluster, his actions have laid bare a determined effort to undermine women’s autonomy. The signs of this troubling trend were evident long before he took office.
Just two months prior to his inauguration, Trump reached out to anti-abortion groups, outlining his dedication to their objectives: implementing a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, appointing anti-abortion judges to the Supreme Court, cutting funding to Planned Parenthood, and making the Hyde Amendment—which restricts low-income women’s access to abortion services via Medicaid—permanent. Essentially, Trump was declaring his allegiance: “I’m your man—women’s bodies are now under my control.”
One comment I received in response to my earlier post comparing Trump’s actions to the dystopian themes of The Handmaid’s Tale still sticks with me: “He never said he’d ban abortion. You’re exaggerating.” It’s perplexing to encounter such a level of denial. If only I could escape into a fantasy while the world around me crumbles. Unfortunately, I must confront the harsh reality that many choose to ignore.
I never sought to be right in my predictions, and I would have been delighted to be proven wrong. The thought of admitting my supposed exaggeration and living in a blissful ignorance would have been a welcome escape. But the truth is unavoidable: President Trump is actively fulfilling the promises he made in his correspondence with anti-abortion advocates by systematically dismantling critical protections that enable women to exercise bodily autonomy. This assault takes many forms, from legislative changes to strategic personnel appointments, all aimed at controlling women’s lives and choices.
Here’s a look at some of Trump’s actions that reveal his anti-abortion stance as a clear plan, not an exaggeration:
- Trump signed legislation allowing state governments to deny federal funding to family planning centers that perform abortions. This move came without media coverage, as he reversed an Obama-era directive that required state and local governments to allocate federal Title X funding for essential health services, including contraception and pregnancy care, regardless of whether they provided abortions. Now, states can defund organizations like Planned Parenthood at their discretion, a bill that passed the Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Mike Reynolds.
- He appointed two prominent anti-abortion advocates to key roles within the Department of Health and Human Services: Sarah Blake and Jessica Lane. Both women have made claims denying the effectiveness of birth control, with Lane famously stating that “contraception doesn’t really work.” This is particularly alarming given that she’s in charge of overseeing $286 million in family planning grants. Blake has even suggested that forms of birth control like IUDs have “life-ending properties” and believes that abortion should be illegal without exceptions, even in cases of rape or incest.
- Trump celebrated the passage of the American Health Care Act, a bill that, crafted without input from female legislators, effectively categorizes being a woman as a pre-existing condition. This could result in denied coverage and inflated premiums for those who have experienced sexual assault, new mothers recovering from C-sections, or even women suffering from heavy menstrual cycles.
- Trump’s appointee, Neil M. Gorsuch, now serves as a Supreme Court Justice. While Gorsuch stated during his confirmation hearing that Roe v. Wade is “the law of the land,” his previous writings suggest a potentially troubling stance on issues related to women’s rights.
As I noted previously, we seem to be living out the themes of The Handmaid’s Tale, and this is no exaggeration. It’s crucial to recognize these developments and resist the erosion of women’s rights. For further insights on fertility and family planning options, including the potential benefits of fertility supplements, check out our post on boosting fertility supplements. Additionally, for more comprehensive information on home insemination, visit Healthline for an excellent resource.
In summary, Trump’s administration has made significant strides in restricting women’s reproductive rights and health care access, transforming promises into tangible policies that threaten women’s autonomy.