From policy rollbacks to cultural shifts, a second Trump presidency could have serious consequences for women across the country. Here’s a breakdown of how things could unravel—and why it matters more than ever to pay attention.
1. Appointing Judges Who Could Gut Reproductive Rights
Trump has already reshaped the federal judiciary with conservative appointments, and another term could cement an even more aggressive rollback of reproductive rights. The judges he champions tend to interpret the Constitution narrowly, especially on issues related to bodily autonomy and privacy. Many are openly skeptical of precedents like Roe v. Wade—even after its reversal—and support expanded state-level restrictions that could leave millions without meaningful access to abortion. According to The 19th, during his first term, President Trump appointed 234 judges to lifetime positions, including three Supreme Court justices, many of whom have set significant legal precedents against reproductive rights.
Beyond abortion, these judges often side against broader reproductive healthcare, contraception access, and gender equality cases. With the right legal challenges, a Trump-stacked bench could restrict emergency contraception, undermine IVF protections, and even block abortion medication access via mail. These rulings would disproportionately harm low-income and rural women who already face barriers. What’s more, once a court tips hard right, it becomes an engine for reversing decades of progress. Trump’s judicial influence isn’t just a legal concern—it’s a structural weapon that could shape a hostile legal landscape for women for decades to come. One presidency could rewrite the rights of an entire generation.
2. Rolling Back Access To Birth Control Through Healthcare Policies
One of the most immediate threats under a second Trump term is the rollback of birth control access. During his first term, Trump allowed employers to opt out of covering contraception in health insurance plans by citing religious or moral objections. This gutted an Affordable Care Act mandate that had dramatically expanded birth control access, particularly for working-class and younger women. As reported by Planned Parenthood Action, in October 2017, the Trump administration allowed virtually any employer to opt out of providing contraceptive coverage for religious or moral reasons, effectively eliminating the birth control coverage guarantee.
This isn’t just about birth control pills—it’s about autonomy. Limiting access to contraception impacts women’s economic mobility, health outcomes, and ability to plan their futures. When birth control becomes harder to obtain, rates of unintended pregnancy rise, particularly in marginalized communities. It also increases pressure on the already overwhelmed healthcare system and further entangles reproductive care with political ideology. While Trump frames these policies as “religious freedom,” the effect is clear: women lose control over their reproductive health. And without strong federal protections, access to contraception becomes a postcode lottery. A second Trump term could make the basic act of managing your own body a bureaucratic, financial, and legal nightmare.
3. Defunding Programs That Protect Women From Domestic Violence
Trump has repeatedly tried to slash funding for programs that support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. His budget proposals targeted the Office on Violence Against Women, which funds shelters, crisis centers, and legal aid for survivors across the country. These programs are lifelines for women escaping dangerous situations, often with children in tow and nowhere else to go. Stripping resources from them isn’t a fiscal decision—it’s a moral one, and the consequences are deadly. According to Politico, in March 2025, the Trump administration’s funding cuts targeted organizations supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, jeopardizing essential services for vulnerable populations.
Many survivors already struggle with limited options, particularly in rural areas or underfunded communities. When budgets get cut, that translates into real lives put at risk: hotline calls that go unanswered, shelters that close, and women forced to return to abusive homes. It also sends a message that protecting women from violence isn’t a priority. Under Trump’s leadership, rhetoric about “law and order” has often masked a disturbing neglect for those who need protection most. Funding domestic violence prevention shouldn’t be controversial. But under another Trump administration, the safety net for survivors could become dangerously thin—and for some women, nonexistent. It’s not just a policy issue. It’s a matter of life and death.
4. Dismantling Title IX Protections For Sexual Assault Survivors
Title IX is a crucial civil rights law designed to protect students from sex-based discrimination—including sexual harassment and assault—in education. Under Trump, Betsy DeVos’s Department of Education rewrote the rules to shift power away from survivors and toward the accused. These changes narrowed the definition of sexual harassment, made it harder for victims to come forward, and discouraged schools from taking action unless a formal complaint was filed. As noted by The Regulatory Review, in May 2020, the Trump administration implemented new Title IX regulations that altered how educational institutions handle sexual harassment and assault cases, shifting the balance of protections.
Another Trump term could further erode protections for survivors by emboldening schools to deprioritize sexual misconduct cases and creating an atmosphere where reporting feels risky and futile. The original intent of Title IX was to create safe, equal environments in schools—but those gains are under serious threat. Rolling back Title IX protections isn’t just policy—it’s cultural permission for abuse to thrive unchecked. When survivors don’t feel safe reporting, the problem doesn’t go away. It gets worse, hidden in silence and shame. With another Trump term, educational spaces could become even more hostile for women—especially those who have already endured trauma just to pursue their education.
5. Refusing To Address The Gender Pay Gap With Any Real Policy
Despite mountains of data showing that women—especially women of color—continue to earn less than their male counterparts, Trump has shown little interest in narrowing the wage gap through federal policy. During his time in office, he rolled back Obama-era rules that required companies to report pay data by gender, a move that made it harder to track and confront discriminatory pay practices. Without transparency, inequity thrives—and women are the ones footing the bill.
A second Trump presidency likely means more of the same: lip service about fairness without any structural changes to enforce it. Pay equity doesn’t fix itself. It requires accountability from employers and incentives from government. Failing to address the gender wage gap keeps women in economic precarity, limits career mobility, and compounds over time into significant retirement disparities. Equal work deserves equal pay—it’s not complicated. But under Trump, the issue is often treated as either exaggerated or irrelevant. For women trying to support themselves, their families, or simply gain economic independence, the lack of action sends a loud message: your labor isn’t valued the same. And under Trump, that message is only amplified.
6. Supporting Lawmakers Who Undermine Maternity Leave And Childcare Access
Trump has consistently aligned himself with lawmakers who oppose federally mandated paid maternity leave and resist expanding affordable childcare options. While he occasionally mentioned the need for paid leave during his campaigns, his administration took little meaningful action to advance it. Instead, his allies in Congress pushed for tax cuts that disproportionately benefited corporations while ignoring the structural support that working mothers actually need. Without strong federal backing, paid leave and affordable childcare remain privileges—available only to those with generous employers or high incomes.
For millions of women, this means having to choose between keeping their jobs or caring for their children. The United States already lags far behind most developed nations when it comes to family support policies. A second Trump term could cement that status. Women shouldn’t have to return to work days after giving birth or pay half their salary just to afford daycare. When leaders refuse to prioritize these issues, they reinforce outdated systems that make parenting a personal burden instead of a shared societal responsibility. And women, especially working-class and single mothers, end up absorbing the cost—financially, emotionally, and physically. It’s not just about convenience. It’s about survival and equity.
7. Promoting Leaders Who Have Openly Disrespected And Degraded Women
Throughout his political career, Trump has surrounded himself with figures—often men—who have been accused of harassment, abuse, or misogynistic behavior. From Brett Kavanaugh to Matt Gaetz, he has repeatedly defended, endorsed, or elevated individuals with deeply troubling records on women’s issues. His administration’s tolerance of this behavior sends a message: if you’re powerful, accountability doesn’t apply. And that message trickles down into workplaces, schools, and communities where women are already fighting to be heard and believed.
When leaders model disrespect, it shapes culture. It tells young women their discomfort doesn’t matter and tells young men they can act without consequences. This isn’t just about bad optics—it’s about reinforcing structures that enable harm. Promoting those who demean or diminish women normalizes a climate of impunity. And when survivors see the highest levels of government shrug off harassment or defend abusers, many stay silent. Leadership is about more than policies—it’s about values. And Trump’s consistent validation of those who mock or mistreat women speaks louder than any campaign slogan. It builds a government where women’s dignity is negotiable. And once that standard drops, it’s hard to raise it back up.
8. Turning The Supreme Court Into A Tool To Roll Back Decades Of Progress
With three Supreme Court appointments during his first term, Trump shifted the balance of the highest court to a deeply conservative majority. The reversal of Roe v. Wade was just the beginning. A second Trump term could see even more justices retire or step down, giving him the power to reshape the court for generations. This isn’t just about abortion—it’s about access to healthcare, workplace protections, education equity, and more. The court sets precedents that determine how women live, work, and raise families.
What’s dangerous isn’t just who he appoints—it’s the ideology they represent. Trump’s justices tend to favor corporate interests, religious exemptions over personal freedoms, and narrow interpretations of civil rights law. As more legal challenges reach the court, everything from birth control access to anti-discrimination protections could be weakened or overturned. These aren’t hypothetical risks—they’re already in motion. Under Trump, the Supreme Court has become less of a safeguard for justice and more of a political weapon. When the highest legal authority in the land turns away from progress, women’s rights don’t just stall—they’re actively dismantled. Another term could lock in that regression for decades to come.
9. Undermining LGBTQ+ Rights That Directly Affect Queer Women
Under Trump, LGBTQ+ rights faced repeated attacks—from the trans military ban to attempts to roll back protections in healthcare and housing. These policies didn’t just target a vague idea of “LGBTQ+”—they directly harmed queer women, particularly those of color and those living in poverty. Many rely on inclusive healthcare policies, workplace protections, and legal safeguards that were weakened or eliminated during Trump’s first term. If he returns to office, these rollbacks could deepen, putting queer women even more at risk.
Queer women already navigate systems stacked against them—from job discrimination to unsafe healthcare environments. When federal protections are stripped away, it sends the signal that their rights are up for debate. The Trump administration’s attempts to define gender narrowly, ignore the needs of same-sex couples, and erode civil rights for LGBTQ+ people reflect a broader effort to re-marginalize communities that had barely begun to find legal recognition. Another four years of this agenda wouldn’t just stall progress—it could erase it. For queer women, it means living with less safety, less access, and less dignity under a government that refuses to see them as equal.
10. Treating Women’s Bodies As Political Battlegrounds
From abortion to contraception to transgender healthcare, Trump’s political strategy repeatedly treats women’s bodies as battlegrounds for ideological wars. These aren’t policy debates—they’re personal attacks on bodily autonomy. When the government regulates when and how you can have a child, access medication, or receive healthcare, it’s not just interference—it’s control. And Trump’s brand of politics thrives on control, especially when it comes to women’s health, identity, and choices. His administration continually prioritized appeasing religious and political allies over protecting medical freedom.
Policies that limit access to reproductive care aren’t about safety or values—they’re about power. And women, especially those from marginalized communities, end up paying the highest price. In Trump’s America, decisions about your body often come down to who’s in office—not what you need. This constant politicization strips away dignity and makes basic care a source of fear and shame. It also creates a chilling effect where providers, educators, and patients hesitate to act, unsure of the legal risks. When your body becomes a talking point instead of a right, you stop being a person and start being a pawn. And that’s exactly the danger of Trump’s vision for women.
11. Pushing A Culture That Excuses Harassment And Misogyny
Trump’s legacy includes a long trail of sexist comments, public shaming, and over two dozen allegations of sexual misconduct. Rather than addressing these issues head-on, he’s dismissed them as “locker room talk” or baseless political attacks. This minimization doesn’t just reflect poorly on him—it feeds a culture that excuses harassment and shames those who speak up. When the highest office in the country treats misogyny as a joke, it signals that the bar for acceptable behavior has been buried in the floor.
The result is a toxic environment where men feel emboldened to harass, belittle, or intimidate without consequence—and where women are told to toughen up or stay quiet. Cultural shifts often start at the top. If a leader models bullying and belittlement, that behavior trickles down into schools, workplaces, and homes. Under Trump, harassment becomes background noise instead of something to confront. And that makes it harder for women to thrive, be safe, and feel respected in public and private spaces. Leadership should challenge sexism—not laugh it off. But in Trump’s world, women are fair game for mockery, judgment, and dismissal. That’s not just offensive—it’s dangerous.
12. Threatening Healthcare Coverage For Low-Income Women
During his first term, Trump repeatedly tried to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, a move that would have stripped millions of women—especially low-income women—of their health coverage. These attacks on the ACA weren’t just about insurance. They targeted access to mammograms, prenatal care, mental health services, and contraception. If reelected, he could revive these efforts, leaving the most vulnerable women with even fewer options for basic medical care. And without federal protections, states would be left to create wildly inconsistent access across the country.
Low-income women already face high barriers to care—transportation, time off work, unaffordable premiums. Removing federal support makes these barriers insurmountable. This isn’t just a political issue—it’s a health crisis. Women shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent or seeing a doctor. But in a Trump-led government, healthcare becomes a privilege, not a right. Community clinics close, preventive screenings drop, and maternal health outcomes—already dire for Black and Indigenous women—worsen. Healthcare isn’t optional. And threatening its foundation puts real lives at risk. A second Trump term could undo hard-won gains and leave millions of women behind. Again.
13. Fueling Extremist Groups That See Women’s Rights As A Threat
Trump’s rhetoric and behavior have energized far-right extremist groups that see feminism and gender equality as existential threats. From incels to Christian nationalists, many of these movements view women’s autonomy as a direct challenge to their power. Under Trump, these groups felt emboldened—marching publicly, organizing online, and even influencing policy through political lobbying. By refusing to clearly denounce them, and in some cases directly pandering to them, Trump created space for these ideologies to move from the fringes to the mainstream.
This emboldenment is not abstract. It shows up in threats against women in politics, targeted harassment campaigns online, and increased violence against gender minorities. These groups don’t just disagree with women’s rights—they want to dismantle them entirely. And when the president signals that these voices are valid, their influence spreads. A second Trump term could deepen this threat, giving extremists more legitimacy and less fear of backlash. Feminism isn’t a threat to democracy—but the forces trying to suppress it are. When leadership refuses to protect women from radicalized hate, it’s not just bad politics—it’s complicity. And women are the ones who suffer the consequences.
