How Trump Split the Feminist Movement

Once a united front, the feminist movement is now deeply divided—and Donald Trump may be the biggest catalyst. Here’s how one man fractured a decades-old alliance.

In the early 2010s, feminism felt like a force.
It was cool again. Popular. Even commercialized. #GirlBoss mugs, pop-star empowerment anthems, and women flooding the workforce with pride.

But in the years since Donald Trump entered the political arena, that movement has fractured—sometimes quietly, sometimes explosively. And for many, Trump wasn’t just a political opponent—he was a stress test for what feminism really meant.

And the cracks showed.

🤝 Once Unified, Now Fractured

Before Trump, mainstream feminism largely held together under big umbrella issues:

Equal pay
Reproductive rights
Representation in leadership
Protection from sexual violence

But Trump’s rise forced a new question to the center:

👉 Are all women’s voices equally valid—even if we don’t agree politically?

For some feminists, the answer was yes.
For others, it was an emphatic no.

🪓 The “Good Feminist” vs. the “Wrong Kind of Woman”

Trump’s presence created a moral litmus test in feminist circles.

If you supported Trump—or even questioned progressive orthodoxy on issues like gender identity, abortion, or immigration—you were no longer considered a “real” feminist by many in the movement.

Women like:

Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Candace Owens
Tulsi Gabbard (post-2020)
Working-class moms who voted red out of economic fear

…found themselves shunned or mocked, even as they raised their voices on women’s issues in their own ways.

“You have to check every box now,” one former women’s group leader said. “It’s less about fighting for women, more about towing the political line.”

🧠 Feminism’s Identity Crisis

Trump’s brashness, vulgar comments, and antagonism toward women in politics deeply offended millions. But instead of creating solidarity, it sparked an identity crisis within feminism:

Should feminism embrace free speech, even if it includes conservative or religious views?
Does feminism include trans women—even at the expense of biological women’s spaces?
Is criticizing illegal immigration compatible with advocating for women’s safety?

These questions divided the movement—and Trump’s presence accelerated the breakup.

🚨 A New Feminism Is Emerging—On Both Sides

Today, you’ll find:

Progressive feminism: Centered around intersectionality, gender fluidity, and systemic equity
Post-liberal feminism: Focused on biological sex, motherhood, tradition, and free speech
Quiet feminists: Women who don’t claim the label anymore—but still believe in the core ideals

And many of these women don’t talk to each other anymore.