The 2024 presidential election, unfortunately, was not a close match. Mr. Trump won by a margin of 86 electoral votes situating him at 312 votes in total. Although he had thirty-four felony convictions, four criminal indictments, three expensive lawsuits, and an overwhelming amount of reckless speeches, he still managed to claim the victory. As the current 47th president, the two candidates that he secured victory from were both women Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. With this ongoing pattern, many wonder if Mr Trump’s victory was because of underlying gender discrimination. 

The male dominance tradition has been established throughout U.S. presidential elections, ever since the very first president, George Washington, was inaugurated in 1789. Hillary Clinton was the first female major party candidate in 2016 and Kamala Harris was the second female major party candidate in 2024, but the presidency itself hasn’t been held by a woman yet. Jill Stein ran for president in 2012, 2016, and 2024 as a Green Party candidate. However, the Green Party has not won enough votes to be considered a major party.  

The image of Mr. Trump bleeding after an attempted assassination spread like a wildfire. Many saw this catastrophe as a symbol of a powerful campaign destiny. Trump claimed, “God spared my life for a reason,” and that he will fulfill this mission for America. Although it is plausible to assume that convictions would cause financial trouble for Mr. Trump, that was not the case. His criminal conviction inspired over $100 million in donations a day.

All of these reasons show how the odds were in his favor. However, the leading strategy that he used was the “gender card.” Mr. Trump ran a campaign heavily focused on being a man who would protect the “fragile” women in the country. At a campaign rally, he said, “whether women like it or not,” he will, “protect,” them. Moreover, Elon Musk, a well-known businessman with a high profile, was publicly supporting Mr. Trump in his campaign, strengthening Mr. Trump’s claim as a tough, protective man.  Trump’s campaign was predominantly set up on the idea that, as a dominant man, he would protect women regardless of their choice. This comment received a lot of backlash, as it contained sexism rooted in the ideology that women are not capable of handling their affairs and bodies, as well as protecting themselves. 

Surprisingly, Ms. Harris did not use the gender card, as it was a way to strengthen her campaign. Ms. Harris claimed that, “yes,” she is a woman, but what mattered is the changes she would create. President Biden has received low ratings on his performance throughout his term as President. Kamala Harris, his Vice President, only had three months to reintroduce herself, as she struggled to break from Mr. Biden’s weight on her shoulders. In the eyes of the voters who were desperate for a change, this action was hard to implement. Additionally, while Mr. Trump and Ms. Kamala had only one debate that brought a lot of likability to Harris. However, Mr. Trump denied a second debate, placing her at a disadvantage once again. In a nation and race so divided, it was difficult for her to proceed with her campaign goals and separate herself from Biden.

Many individuals claimed, “they were devastated, but not surprised.” Ms. Harris’s defeat made it so much worse for future generations of aspiring, young female politicians. Hence, Ms. Harris’s loss shows how people are willing to overlook Mr. Trump’s defects, over electing the first female President, indicating how sexism persists across our nation, even in the 21st century.