On International Women's Day, President Trump tweeted that he has "tremendous respect for women and the many rules they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy."
If the president is sincere in his comments, he needs to take steps to ensure that women are viewed as equal under the constitution, receive equal pay for equal work, and can make their own choices about reproductive rights. These rights are ones that women have long been entitled to, but have not received.
Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that Trump will be the one to advance women's rights. On the campaign trail, he called women derogatory names, made fun of how they looked, and spoke of sexual assault as if he was entitled to do whatever he wanted because he was rich and famous.
His presidency has been met with women's protests around the globe. In the United States, the Trump presidency has resulted in the largest, organized protest efforts in the country's history. These efforts have fueled a powerful political movement that is encouraging and supporting women to run for office.
It is one thing for Trump to tweet about his support for women, it is quite another thing for him to take action that creates necessary change. Women deserve more than empty statements on special days of recognition. They deserve equal rights every day of the year.
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If Trump is a man of his word, not merely king of propaganda, he will stop tweeting and start taking action to protect the women he believes to be so "vital to the fabric of our society and our economy."
Alm lives in West Fargo.
