Gretchen Carlson Calls Trump’s ‘Protector’ of Women Comments Something Out of ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ During Appearance on CNN

Gretchen Carlson , a former Fox News host who now advocates for women who face sexual harassment in the workplace, appeared on CNN to respond to former President Donald Trump’s comments claiming that he wants to be women’s “protector.”

Trump said during a campaign rally in Indiana, Pennsylvania on Monday: “I am your protector. I want to be your protector. As president, I have to be your protector. I hope you don’t make too much of it. I hope the fake news doesn’t go, ‘Oh, he wants to be their protector.’ Well, I am. As president, I have to be your protector.”

He continued:

You will no longer be abandoned, lonely, or scared. You will no longer be in danger. You’re not going to be in danger any longer. You will no longer have anxiety from all of the problems our country has today. You will be protected , and I will be your protector . Women will be happy, healthy, confident, and free. You will no longer be thinking about abortion!

Carlson had a direct response to Trump’s comments:

Well, I think I’m going to offend Donald Trump and say, as a woman, I don’t need him to protect me. I’m fine on my own. And I think a lot of other women feel that way.

Then she offered up some analysis on the comments from Trump, who has bragged about appointing the three Supreme Court Justices who paved the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade , ending federal abortion rights and turning them over to the states, resulting in states banning the procedure:

[U]p until now, Donald Trump has fed up red meat to the base. Last night, I felt like that was a bit of an olive branch to independent women, to say, “Suburban moms, independents — look at me, I’m here for you.” He talked about the safety of women, the health of women. I mean, there’s two women in Georgia who would argue against that, based on what’s happened to them with regard to abortion. And, you know, he’s a little bit like The Handmaid’s Tale to me, calling himself a “protector of women.” It makes you wonder, what else is going to happen to women if Donald Trump is elected?

The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood (and currently a TV series) in which an extremist Christian dictator takes over the United States and forces women into reproductive slavery. That leader, the Commander, claims that women are better protected from violence under his regime.

Watch the video above via CNN.