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Trump: Women like me because I'll protect them from terrorists

Donald Trump on Tuesday touted his strength as a reason women are supporting his candidacy, insisting that female voters are backing the New York businessman because he can protect them from the Islamic State and more.

Trump, appearing on “Fox & Friends,” walked through a diner in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, taking questions from patrons. “How are you gonna change and get the support of more women, like myself?” one woman asked.

“You know, I have so many women that really want to have protection from the standpoint — and they like me for that reason,” Trump said before suggesting he gets bad press regarding women.

“But there is nobody that respects women more than me, and I notice a lot of women are saying that…,” he said, trailing off into another point. “And I don’t get a fair press with the women. I have to say, the press treats me horribly with almost every aspect of life.”

The Republican front-runner said that on Monday night, “so many women” told him they support him because he can protect them. “They were saying, 'We like Donald Trump because we feel he’s going to be the strongest for the country in terms of protection, in terms of the border, in terms of ISIS, in terms of other countries,' and I win by such a margin,” he said. “So that’s protecting women, but it’s also protecting everybody.”

Asked what she would have Trump change, the woman responded, “Nothing,” to Trump’s delight. “I love your power,” she gushed. “I love your power.”

Penny Young Nance, CEO of the public policy women’s organization Concerned Women for America and a Ted Cruz supporter, called Trump’s comments amusing.

“I think that’s laughable,” Nance told POLITICO in a phone interview Tuesday. But Trump is right, she conceded, in that national security is a key issue for women.

“He says that he’s the guy that’s gonna keep women safe, and our question would be who’s gonna keep us safe from him?” Nance added.

She also slammed Trump for his controversial comments on abortion last week, in which he supported a ban and suggested punishing women for having abortions should the procedure become outlawed.

But she pushed back on the notion that the billionaire businessman would be the worst president for women.

“As bad as Donald Trump is, Hillary Clinton’s worse, and Bernie Sanders would destroy the economy,” she said.