Former President Donald Trump said Monday that abortion rights should be left to the states, offering his clearest stance yet on one of the most delicate and contentious issues in American politics.
“My view is now that we have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both.
In this case, the law of the state,” Trump said in a video posted to his Truth Social account.
Trump told reporters last week that he would be making a “statement” on abortion when pressed about Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which is set to become law after a recent state Supreme Court ruling.
Another seven states have restrictions that prevent abortion between six and 18 weeks into a pregnancy.
That includes Trump’s home state of Florida, where a six-week abortion ban will take effect in a matter of weeks.
Many states with abortion bans do not allow for exceptions in cases of rape and incest.
Trump in his statement Monday acknowledged that voters will ultimately decide the fate of abortion access in some states.
In his most direct statement to date on one of the most sensitive and divisive topics in American politics, former President Donald Trump stated on Monday that abortion rights ought to be left up to the states.
“In my opinion, the states will decide by legislation, vote, or maybe both, now that abortion is legal where everyone wanted it to be. And whatever they decide, it has to become national law. Trump stated as much in a video uploaded to his Truth Social account. “In this case, the law of the state.”.
“There will be differences in many states,” Trump added. Many will differ in the number of weeks, and some will be more conservative than others, and that’s just the way they are. This ultimately comes down to the people’s will. “.
In the past, Trump had indicated that he might be in favor of a 15-week federal ban, with exceptions for rape, incest, and situations in which the mother’s life is in jeopardy. Nevertheless, a significant anti-abortion rights group quickly criticized his final decision to defer the politically contentious matter to the states rather than support a federal ban, claiming that his stance did not go far enough.
In the video released on Monday, Trump claimed to be “proudly the person responsible” for Roe v. Supreme Court’s decision. Wade, which he claimed moved the matter “out of the federal hands and into the hearts, minds, and vote of the people in each state,” was relevant. “.
Though he reiterated his support for some exceptions, the former president did not specify the number of weeks during a pregnancy at which he thought it would be appropriate to ban abortion. In the past, he openly mocked state laws that forbade abortions lasting six weeks as “awful” and admitted that Republicans have been hampered by the discussion of the procedure when voting since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling removed federal protections for abortion.
When questioned about Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which is about to become a law following a recent state Supreme Court ruling, Trump informed reporters last week that he would be making a “statement” on the topic.
Prominent anti-abortion group Susan B. immediately reacted negatively to Trump’s video released on Monday. Republican contenders in the presidential primary were subject to a 15-week nationwide ban, according to Anthony Pro-Life America.
“We find President Trump’s stance to be incredibly disappointing. National advocacy and protections against the brutality of the abortion industry are necessary for unborn children and their mothers. According to the group’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, “the Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act.”.
Senator from South Carolina. Trump supporter Lindsey Graham stated that he “respectfully” disagreed with the former president, claiming that “the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography.”. “.
The announcement made by his former boss was viewed on social media as a “retreat on the Right to Life” and a “slap in the face” by the millions of pro-life Americans who supported him in 2016 and 2020, according to former vice president Mike Pence, who withdrew from the GOP presidential race in October. “.
Later on Monday, Trump retaliated on social media against the criticism.
“Until I came along and got the job done, Lindsey, Marjorie, and others fought for years, unsuccessfully,” the former president stated on his Truth Social platform. “We cannot allow the loss of elections on a matter that ought to have been decided by the States, and now will be, to cause any more harm to our Country!”.
Graham responded to Trump’s criticism by restating his case for a ban on abortions beyond 15 weeks. He contended, “It’s a state issue, but the child can feel pain as it develops.”.
Graham said to CNN, “States, do it the way you want to do it.”. “Yet there comes a time, in my opinion, that we must align ourselves with the civilized world, and that time is in 15 weeks. “.
In his video, Trump made the false claim that Roe v. was desired by “all legal scholars, both sides.”. Wade was removed, meaning that legally speaking, we now have “abortion where everybody wanted it.”. The majority of Americans in opinion polls and numerous academics who support abortion rights opposed the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that made the procedure legal across the country.
A changing position.
Trump’s distortions regarding abortion date back to his early political endeavors. Trump described himself as “very pro-choice” during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” in 1999, following the announcement of a presidential exploratory committee. “.
“The idea of abortion offends me. However, I simply think in free will,” he continued.
Trump made an effort to disassociate himself from the statement in order to appease conservatives and dubious anti-abortion leaders in 2016, as he advanced toward the GOP presidential nomination. He promised to replace Roe v. Wade with conservative justices on the Supreme Court. Wade. In a famous exchange that took place during the Republican primary, Trump stated that women who have abortions ought to be punished in some way if the procedure were to become illegal. After receiving immediate criticism, his campaign swiftly withdrew the statement, but not before claiming that in that situation, doctors—not women—should bear the “legal responsibility.”.
Democratic efforts to link the likely Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, to a raft of anti-abortion legislation that followed the landmark Dobbs decision—a decision made possible by the former president fulfilling his promise to reshape the Supreme Court—will not be impeded by Trump’s most recent attempt to clarify his position. Three justices who voted with the majority to overturn Roe were appointed by Trump. ( ).
More than anyone else in America, Donald Trump made it abundantly evident today that he is the one who must bring an end to the Roe v. Wade,” President Joe Biden declared on Monday in a statement for his campaign. More than anyone else in America, he is to blame for the anarchy and cruelty that have engulfed the country ever since the Dobbs ruling. “.
14 states, including Texas, the second most populous state in the union, have laws prohibiting abortion in most circumstances. Restrictions prohibit abortions between six and eighteen weeks of pregnancy in seven additional states. This includes Florida, the state where Trump was born, where a six-week abortion ban will go into effect very soon.
Though Trump reiterated his support for some abortion exceptions Monday, he stopped short of suggesting national legislation to ensure access to the procedure for victims of rape and incest or when a mother’s life is in danger. Many states that forbid abortions also do not permit exceptions for rape and incest cases. Even those that do demand that assault victims locate police reports to substantiate their claims.
Furthermore, there are no widely accepted guidelines for identifying health risks to women. Physicians have been forced to interpret ambiguous laws in numerous states that have implemented new abortion restrictions, risking losing their medical licenses and possibly facing jail time if they break the law.
“One in three women in America already live under severe and dangerous bans that endanger their lives and threaten to prosecute doctors for carrying out their professional duties because of Donald Trump.”. Biden stated on Monday that “that is only going to get worse.”.
At a campaign event in Chicago later Monday, Biden argued that “no one” trusts Trump, who he said “made a political deal” to overturn Roe v. Wade. The traveling press pool quoted Biden as saying, “Trump and the MAGA crowd don’t have a clue about the power of women in America.”. “Trump is aware that he is in danger. He fears that voters will demand accountability from him. “.
In opposition to this situation, proponents of abortion rights are working hard to get ballot initiatives on state constitutions this autumn in states all over the nation that would guarantee access to the procedure. In his remarks on Monday, Trump admitted that voters in certain states will ultimately determine whether or not abortion access is allowed.
On the other hand, Trump has not yet stated his position on a bill pertaining to abortion access that will be on his own Florida ballot in November.
More information has been added to this story.
