Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former aide in the Trump White House, raised concerns over the GOP’s messaging toward women without children, calling it “strategically disastrous.” This follows Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s remarks at a recent rally where she criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for not having children, saying that her kids keep her humble.
Sanders emphasized her motherhood at the rally in Flint, Michigan, stating, “Not only do my kids serve as a permanent reminder of what’s important, they also keep me humble,” before taking a jab at Harris: “Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble.”
It’s worth noting that Harris has two stepchildren, Cole and Ella Emhoff, from her marriage to Doug Emhoff, and they affectionately call her “Momala.” During the Democratic National Convention, their family dynamic was highlighted, showcasing their readiness to represent diverse family structures in America.
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Griffin discussed these issues on CNN’s The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, articulating that Sanders’s comments are detrimental to the party’s outreach to women voters, who have been trending towards Democrats due to issues like reproductive rights. “It is strategically disastrous,” she explained, highlighting that Republicans need to reconnect with women, especially with reproductive health being a central topic in this election cycle.
The GOP has previously faced backlash for similar comments. An old interview of Ohio Senator JD Vance resurfaced where he dismissed women without children in a derogatory manner, further complicating Trump’s relationship with female voters.
Griffin criticized Sanders’s comments as “insulting,” characterizing them as “anti-family” and “anti-freedom” messages. Despite her disappointment, Griffin noted that she has always enjoyed working with Sanders and expected more from her.