Hillary Clinton used her first speech since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee on Friday to blast Donald Trump for comments has had made about women, questioning whether women want to put “our health, our lives, our futures in Donald Trump’s hands.”
Clinton, who has now fully pivoted to the general election, delivered a point-by-point critique of Trump for comments he had made about women, arguing that “anyone who wants to defund Planned Parenthood and wipe out safe legal abortion has no idea what is best for women.”
“This is a man who called women pigs, dogs and disgusting animals. Kind of hard counting on him to respect our fundamental right,” Clinton said. “He says pregnant women are an inconvenience to their employer. What does that say about he values women, our work and our contributions?”
Trump has called actress Rosie O’Donnell a “fat pig” on numerous occasions and referred to singer Bette Midler as “disgusting” on Twitter. Trump also told NBC in 2004 that pregnancy is “a wonderful thing for the woman, it’s a wonderful thing for the husband, it’s certainly an inconvenience for a business.”
Clinton’s speech, aides said, was meant to send a clear signal to women – a crucial voting bloc – about what “a Trump presidency would mean for women.” Aides also said the fact Clinton went to Planned Parenthood for her first speech after clinching the nomination was meant to be a signal to liberals that she is not going to move to the center, despite clinching the nomination.
Clinton said on Friday that “when Donald Trump says let’s make America great again, that is code for, let’s take America backward back to a time when opportunity and dignity were reserved or some, not all.”
“Well, Donald, those days are over,” Clinton said. “We are not going to let Donald Trump or anyone else turn back the clock.”
Clinton noted that Trump – who has repeatedly praised Planned Parenthood – has also argued there should be punishment for women seeking abortions, the aide added, criticizing him for telling Fox News that the best way to ban abortion “is by electing me president.”
Clinton is closing out a key week for her presidential campaign. After winning the California and New Jersey primaries, Clinton delivered a speech in Brooklyn where she claimed victory in the Democratic Primary.
A trio of critical Democrats – President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Elizabeth Warren – endorsed Clinton on Thursday. Clinton and Warren met at the former secretary of state’s Washington, D.C., home on Friday.
“We reached a milestone together this week thanks to you and people all of our country for the first time a woman will be a major party’s nominee for president,” Clinton said. “Yesterday, I had the great honor of being endorsed by President Obama and Vice President Biden. And by senator Elizabeth Warren.”
She added, “So it has been a big week and there is nowhere I would rather end if than with the Planned Parenthood Acton Fund.”
