On Saturday’s “Fox and Friends” show, former President Donald Trump was critical of actress Julia Roberts for being the narrator of a campaign ad for Kamala Harris; specifically, the ad urges women to vote for the Democratic nominee and lying to their respective husbands, who implicitly support Trump.
“I’m so disappointed at Julia Roberts because I love — she’s going to look back at that and cringe that, did I really say that?” Mr. Trump said on “Fox & Friends,” expressing disbelief that a wife would hide whom she voted for from her husband. “It doesn’t say much for her relationship but I’m sure she has a great relationship.”
He then went on: “Even if you have a horrible — if you had a bad relationship, you’re going to tell your husband. That’s a ridiculous ad. It’s so stupid. You’re going to look back some days and just say, did I really make that?”
The ad, produced by the pro-Harris group “Vote Common Good”, depicts two women subtly confiding in each other about their plans to vote for Harris, despite their husbands’ disapproval.
“In the one place in America where women still have the freedom to choose, you can vote however you want, and no one will ever know,” Roberts says, hinting at the threat to reproductive rights if Trump wins the presidency again.
The ad closes with Roberts, as the narrator, reminding viewers, “Remember, what happens in the booth stays in the booth.”
Some conservatives touted the ad as evidence of deteriorating family relationships and a lack of reciprocal confidence. However, Democrats believe that Trump’s behavior toward women and the overturn of Roe v. Wade may mobilize more female voters. Their goal is to provide moderate and independent Republican women with motivation to support her, even in the presence of outspoken Trump supporters.
Gender issues took the center stage in the final days of the campaign, with Harris criticizing Trump for saying he would protect American women “whether women like it or not.” Polls have shown a significant gender gap, with women much more likely to vote for Ms. Harris. Specifically, Trump is ahead by about 18 percentage points in the male vote, while Harris is ahead by 16 points in the female vote, adding up to a total of about 34 points in the gender gap.
