The War on Women is in full force under the Trump administration. We refuse to go back, and we refuse to let the administration quietly dismantle the progress we’ve made. We are watching.
This is the War on Women Report.
Monday, 1/8
+ In the Trump administration’s latest blow to the Temporary Protected Status law, which grants immigrants from countries affected by natural disaster or war legal status, the administration announced on Monday that 260,500 Salvadoran immigrants will lose legal status in July 2019 who have lived and worked in the U.S. since a devastating earthquake in 2001. As a result of this latest decision from the Trump administration, 192,700 U.S.-born children could lose at least one parent. El Salvador is the fourth country that Trump has revoked TPS status from; his administration has facilitated the removal of more than 320,000 legal immigrants over the last year, some of whom are displaced immigrant women being forcibly sent back to abusive homes.
Tuesday, 1/9
+ In a Tuesday interview with NBC News, California Rep. Jackie Speier announced that she and other Democratic lawmakers would be wearing black to the State of the Union address later this month in an homage, and as part of an expansion of, the celebrity show of solidarity at this year’s Golden Globes. “This is a culture change that is sweeping the country, and Congress is embracing it,” Speier said. In addition to dressing in black, Democratic lawmakers will invite women who have accused the president of sexual harassment or assault to attend the event; a significant move considering Trump administration has dismissed the over one dozen accusations of harassment and assault against him as “fake news” and called his accusers “liars.”
Thursday, 1/11
+ In a bipartisan meeting on the subject of immigration reform, Trump reportedly identified Haiti, El Salvador and African countries as “shitholes,” demanding that the U.S. accept fewer immigrants from these countries and more from notably majority white countries like Norway. According to the Washington Post, lawmakers and several people briefed on the meeting say the president said: “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Why do we need more Haitians? Take them out.”
Friday, 1/12
+ Friday’s news cycle has predictably been dominated by Trump’s comments about immigration from Thursday, and while the president doesn’t deny calling other countries poor or using “tough” language, he denies calling some countries “shitholes.” But notably, at his Friday remarks regarding Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at the White House, Trump did not deny being racist. At the White House event, CNN contributor April Ryan first asked if Trump would be issuing an apology for his alleged crude and racist language. After the president did not respond, Ryan asked next, “Mr. President, are you a racist? Mr. President, will you respond to these serious questions about your statement, sir?” In a deeply telling move, Trump responded by simply walking out of the room.
