Donald Trump rejects Barack Obama's vision of female-led global governance

President Donald Trump has dismissed a suggestion by former President Barack Obama that global governance would improve if women were in charge of every government for a two-year period. Trump characterized Obama’s thought experiment as “ridiculous,” though he added, “I love women. I think they’re great.”

The debate follows a discussion at Salem State University where Obama, speaking with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, shared a recurring daydream from his time in the Oval Office. Obama stated his belief that while a period of female-led governance would not be perfect, it would lead to “significant improvement” in living standards and overall outcomes.

While rejecting the ideological premise, Trump’s administration has noted the presence of women in high-level roles, such as White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, the first woman to hold the position.