Trump and Anti-Feminism: Misogyny in a MAGA hat

It's 2025, and Donald Trump is once again the face of American politics – not just as a former President, but as a symbol. A symbol of power, of populism , of backlash. But beneath the slogans and rallies lies something more insidious; a deep, persistent strain of anti-feminism that has followed Trump from the campaign trail to the courtroom and into the cultural bloodstream.

From “grab 'em by the pussy” to dismantling protections for reproductive rights, Trump's legacy is not just political – it's profoundly personal for women. It's about more than politics; it's about normalisation of misogyny at the highest levels of power.

This blog explores how Trump has become both a lightning rod for a feminist resistance and a rallying point for those who view gender equality as a threat.

The Rise of a Backlash President

Trump didn't invent misogyny. But he mainstreamed it.

In 2016, Trump's political campaign was marked by racist, sexist and xenophobic rhetoric. He mocked a disabled journalist, called Mexican immigrants rapists and bragged about sexually assaulting women – all while maintaining the unwavering support of millions, including a majority of white women voters.

It was a turning point. Not just for politics, but for feminism. Because if a man could say those things and still become President, what did that say about the value of women – our voices, our experiences, our trauma?

Trump's election was a loud, collective gut punch. It sparked the Women's March, the #MeToo resurgence and a cultural reckoning about who gets to lead and who gets to be believed.

But the backlash came just as hard – and it hasn't stopped since.

Misogyny as a Policy

While Trump is often portrayed as a “joke” or a chaotic populist, his administration was far from harmless when it came to women's rights.

• Title IX rollbacks under his Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, made it harder for survivors of sexual assault on campus to seek justice.

• Abortion Rights were relentlessly targets. Trump appointed three Supreme Court Justices who ultimately helped overturn Roe vs. Wade, dismantling 50 years of precedent protecting reproductive freedom.

• His administration cut funding for programs addressing domestic violence, reproductive healthcare and workplace discrimination.

These weren't random moves – thy were deliberate. A slow erosion of protections for women, justified under the guise of “freedom” and “family values,” but rooted in control.

Words Matter – Especially When They're Weaponised

Language is power. And Trump uses it like a blunt instrument.

Calling women “nasty”. Mocking their appearances. Referring to female journalists as “disgusting” or “stupid.” His insults aren't just personal – they're gendered. Calculated. Designed to humiliate and diminish. His rhetoric sets the tone. It gives permission. And it trickles down – into schools, workplaces, courts and homes.

It tells men it's OK to interrupt, to belittle, to grope. It tells women that if they speak out, they'll be laughed at, called liars, or worse.

This isn't just “locker room talk.” It's cultural permission for abuse.

Feminist Resistance in the Trump Era

But for every insult, there's been resistance. Trump may have tried to silence women, but he ended up amplifying their voices.

• The Women's March in 2017 and 2025 became some of the largest protests in U.S. History.

• The #MeToo movement gained momentum in the aftermath of his election, with survivors across industries coming forward.

• In the 2018 and 2020 elections, a record number of women ran for office – and won!

Women have organised, mobilised and fought back – not just in the U.S, but globally. Trump has inadvertently galvanised a new generation of feminists who are no longer interested in playing nice.

But it's exhausting. Because resistance, for women, has never been optional – it's survival.

Final Thoughts: We're Not Going Back

Trump doesn't hate women. He likes them silent, smiling and obedient.

He represents a nostalgic fantasy for some – a return to a time when women “knew their place”, when men weren't “afraid” to say what they thought, when feminism hadn't “ruined” everything. But for those who live in the real world – as women, as survivors, as human beings – that world was never safe. It was suffocating.

As a feminist, I'm tired. Tired of being gaslit by power in a red tie. Tired of watching our rights debated by men who think we're too emotional to lead or too “hormonal” to decide what happens to our own bodies. Trump's resurgence isn't just political – it's personal. It's a reminder that patriarchy doesn't die quietly. It claws its way back in with a grin, a slogan and a crowd of people cheering for the return of “greatness.”

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING BACK!

We've marched, we've shouted, we've survived. And we'll keep doing it – because feminism isn't a fad. It's a fight. Once we've been winning, inch by inch, even when the loudest voices in the room say otherwise.

So keep your MAGA hats. We'll keep our voices – and our rage – exactly where they belong.