First lady Melania Trump’s classy ability to handle attacks on her while keeping the focus on her and the president’s agenda steady is a top reason Republican women are flocking to support President Trump, according to a new survey.
In a deep dive into the reasons women back the president, the survey put Trump’s accomplishments and his wife at the top and said that she is a sign that the president has good “judgment.”
The survey from the Frontier Center, provided Friday to Secrets, said, “Female supporters included First Lady Melania Trump as one of Trump’s greatest assets as she, too, provides leadership for how to act in a hostile culture.”
It added, “In 2016 we saw they looked to his children to extrapolate that he likely has good character given how well they turned out. In 2020 we do not see mention of his children; instead we see mention of Melania as an example of a good role model who confirms Trump’s wise judgment in a partner rather than helping them to predict his character.”
Anne Sorock Segal, co-author of the survey, told us that women who support the president “look for Trump to provide leadership for how to handle a culture that they are not accepted in. Trump gives them courage and fight; Melania shows them grace can be a part of their demeanor. These women want to know, how do we act in this culture? There is no leader showing them except Trump.”
The survey gives support to the decision to put Melania Trump on the campaign trail to help in the president’s reelection bid.
The results came from a study of “high-intensity” support at the president’s recent rally in Manchester, New Hampshire. The survey compared findings to a similar one conducted during the 2016 campaign.
While the values were similar to 2016, the women cited “different reasons that President Trump fulfilled them,” such as swapping out Melania Trump for his children.
Along with the first lady, the list of accomplishments, which the White House said totals 319, has given supporters the proof they hoped for that their 2016 support was the right decision.
A great first day in #WY. Met w/ Jackson District @boyscouts at the elk antler arches in town square learning about their conservation efforts w/ Nat’l Elk Refuge. Explored Snake River w/ 4th graders seeing lots of natural beauty. @NatlParkService #EveryKidOutdoors #BeBest pic.twitter.com/c86bwKzDUx
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 4, 2019
“Rather than requiring optimism, identified in 2016 along with the other four values to explain support, in 2020 women said their hopes had been confirmed. In fact, women said they are being proven right together with President Trump, solidifying a sense of team,” said the survey titled, “Outsiders, Together: 2020 Motivating Values of High-Intensity Female Supporters of President Trump.”
And it found that in a political climate where Trump supporters can feel discriminated against, even hated, the president and first lady provide a model to respond.
“The president provides a model for them and for future generations in engaging detractors: they noted his toughness, transparency, loyalty, unabashed conservatism, and the courage not to retreat. They do not turn from his brashness but appreciate the example for how to live their lives in this culture. They are outsiders to the ‘swamp,’ together,” it said.
