Donald Trump's campaign has spent millions of dollars on ads in battleground states that say Kamala Harris supports the use of taxpayer funds for gender-affirming treatments for inmates. But political analysts say transgender rights are not among the top election issues.

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Donald Trump is preparing to take office after defeating Kamala Harris in the U.S. Presidential election.

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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has launched an advertising campaign targeting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris on transgender issues as the U.S. presidential election approaches. The ads, which have been aired on television and online in key battleground states, accuse Harris of supporting taxpayer-funded transgender health care for prison inmates and backing men in women's sports. These ads are part of a larger strategy focused on transgender rights, a topic frequently addressed by Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, at public rallies.

Despite the focus of Trump's campaign, political analysts suggest that transgender rights are not among the primary concerns for voters in the current election. According to Paul Beck, a professor emeritus of political science at The Ohio State University, this topic is more of a cultural issue used strategically to challenge Democratic candidates. In interviews, Trump supporters have expressed varied opinions, with some viewing the emphasis on transgender issues as a distraction by Democrats, while others believe the ads are strengthening their support for Harris.

In response to the campaign, Harris defended her position on gender-affirming health care for inmates, highlighting that such care was also made available under the Trump administration. She emphasized her intention to follow the law in these matters. A recent CNN poll showed Harris leading Trump among likely voters in Michigan, but the broader race remains competitive according to other polls.



Trump ads attack Harris on trans issues – but do voters care?

In the final weeks leading up to the U.S. presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump has spent millions on this ad campaign. The online and TV advertisements in battleground states attack Trump's Democratic rival Kamala Harris, saying she supports taxpayer-funded transgender health care for prison inmates and men in women's sports. The two are hot-button talking points in a broader campaign against transgender rights. But how significant is the issue? Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, frequently bring the topic up at rallies and in interviews. At one such Vance rally in Portage, Michigan, Trump supporter Richard Merrill said it is Democrats who keep the issue on the political agenda, quote, because they've got no policy. Transgender, I think it's a scam anyway. Personally, I do identify as non-binary, so I use they, them pronouns. So I find it a little comical. I think it's a little funny. In Grand Rapids, barista Clay Eiley says the Republican ads just reinforce his support for Harris. It's intentionally trying to alienate the transgender community. However, political analysts say transgender rights are rarely mentioned when voters are asked about their top election issues. I think it's not something that most voters think about. Paul Beck is a professor emeritus of political science at The Ohio State University. But they feel that here is a cultural issue that they can take advantage of and put the Democrats or the Democratic candidates in a difficult position. In a recent interview on Fox News, Harris defended her position, saying she would follow the law which ensures health care for prison inmates, including gender-affirming care. She noted that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons made such treatments available under Trump's administration as well. A CNN poll released on Wednesday showed Harris leading Trump by 48 percent to 43 percent among likely voters in Michigan. Other polling shows a dead heat going into Tuesday's election.

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