Donald Trump’s campaign and his allies have been strategically focusing on transgender rights issues in their political ads leading up to the election. The campaign has spent a significant amount of money, with more than $19 million on two television ads airing nearly 55,000 times since October 1. In addition, Make America Great Again Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, has spent over $1.1 million on a similar ad that has aired more than 6,000 times during the same time period.
These ads are being strategically placed in battleground states and aired during popular events like NFL and college football games. The content of the ads specifically targets taxpayer-funded gender transitions for individuals in prison and immigrant detainees. They reference Vice President Kamala Harris’ comments from 2019, where she expressed support for transgender inmates to have access to gender-affirming surgery. Harris also indicated support for “medically necessary care” for federal inmates and detained migrants in a questionnaire from the American Civil Liberties Union.
One of the ads contrasts Harris’ stance on transgender rights with Trump’s, stating, “Kamala is for they/them, Trump is for you.” However, Harris’ communications director, Michael Tyler, clarified that her response in the questionnaire does not reflect her current proposals or campaign focus. Despite the emphasis on transgender rights in these ads, recent polls have shown that only 38% of voters consider transgender rights extremely or very important to their vote choice in the upcoming election.
A Gallup poll from 2023 indicated a growing majority of Americans believed transgender athletes should only compete on sports teams that align with their gender at birth, rather than their gender identity. This suggests that the issue of transgender rights may not be a top priority for many voters, with other concerns like the economy, abortion, and immigration taking precedence.
The Trump campaign, however, seems to be banking on the issue of transgender rights to sway voters as the election draws near. Chris LaCivita, co-campaign manager, stated that the campaign is highlighting this issue because it is something the opposition does not want to address. Trump has repeatedly emphasized his stance on “keeping men out of women’s sports,” a sentiment that garners applause at his rallies.
The use of transgender rights as a campaign issue is not unique to Trump, as other candidates, including those in key Senate races, are also utilizing this topic to criticize their Democratic opponents. Political economy professor Cameron Shelton noted that campaign ads typically reinforce existing voter sentiments rather than persuade undecided voters. The focus on transgender rights may serve to energize certain voter demographics and potentially increase voter turnout.
While the Trump campaign is betting on the potency of the transgender rights issue, past experiences suggest that anti-transgender ads have not been successful in swaying election outcomes. The Human Rights Campaign highlighted the lack of success of such ads in previous elections, indicating that fear-mongering tactics related to transgender rights have historically been ineffective.
In conclusion, the emphasis on transgender rights in political ads leading up to the election reflects a strategic move by the Trump campaign to sway voters and energize their base. However, the effectiveness of this tactic remains to be seen, as historical data suggests that anti-transgender ads may not significantly impact election results. The focus on this issue underscores the broader political landscape and the various tactics employed by campaigns to influence voter sentiment.
