Former President Donald Trump told rallygoers in Pennsylvania on Monday night that he will protect female voters and that abortion will not be a problem if he has a second term.

“You will no longer be thinking about abortion,” Trump said toward the end of a long address that was made directly to women during his event in Indiana, Pennsylvania, about 55 miles east of Pittsburgh.

“Women will be happy, healthy, confident, and free,” the former president said.

Abortion has been a difficult subject for the Trump campaign during the 2024 election cycle in large part because the former president takes credit for overturning federal abortion protections under Roe v. Wade due to his historic three judicial nominations. 

Social conservatives who supported Trump in 2020 have felt the cold shoulder in the lead-up to November as both Trump and his running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) have distanced themselves from traditional Republican talking points on abortion.

But there has also been a rift between Trump and Vance regarding whether or not Trump would consider signing a federal abortion ban should one conceivably reach the Resolute Desk.

While Trump has lauded that now states can choose their own limits on abortion, Vice President Kamala Harris has positioned herself as a candidate who will restore a federally protected right to an abortion at any stage during pregnancy. 

Recent polling data indicate that voters in swing states strongly prefer some sort of federal law codifying abortion rights as opposed to handling abortion policy at the state level. 

Large majorities in each swing state, including 69% in Pennsylvania, earlier this month reported a preference for a federal abortion policy. 

As of March, 1 in 8 voters (or about 12% of the electorate) said that abortion was the most important issue, while another 52% said it was important but not their primary concern. 

Trump made the comment on abortion Monday night during a longer riff on women’s issues, criticizing the press for highlighting his struggles with female voters.

“I always thought women liked me,” the former president said. “But the fake news keeps saying women don’t like me.” 

Trump also told women in the audience, “You will be protected, and I will be your protector.” 

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In a new head-to-head poll from NBC News this week, Harris garnered support from 58% of the female respondents compared to Trump’s 37%.