Former President Donald Trump clarified his stance on abortion on Monday, saying that he believes abortion policies should be decided by states. This announcement ends months of uncertainty over his position on the issue and comes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Trump stated that whatever states decide on abortion should be the law of the land, emphasizing that he believes in exceptions for rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk.
Trump took credit for the end of Roe v. Wade, falsely claiming that legal scholars had demanded the ruling be overturned. He appointed three Supreme Court justices who voted to strike down the abortion-rights ruling. The ex-president had previously declined to commit to a specific position on abortion but had indicated his support for a 15 or 16-week ban. His announcement on Monday was more permissive on abortion rights than expected, as he urged lawmakers to “follow their heart” but also stressed the importance of winning elections to restore the culture and save the country.
Abortion has been a winning issue for Democrats since the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v. Wade. Polling shows that most Americans support the procedure remaining legal. Trump’s position on abortion has been a topic of speculation, given his history of flip-flopping on the issue. He openly supported abortion rights in the 1990s but reversed his stance during the 2016 election. There have been concerns that if reelected, Trump may capitulate to anti-abortion rights advocates and impose a national ban on the procedure.
In addition to his stance on abortion, Trump also emphasized his support for the availability of IVF (in-vitro fertilization). The legality of IVF has come under controversy, with an Alabama court ruling that frozen embryos created through IVF should be considered children. Despite the disappointment expressed by some anti-abortion rights groups over Trump’s statement, they continue to support him in the election. Susan B. Anthony List stated they were “deeply disappointed” in Trump’s decision to leave the issue up to states, arguing that it cedes the national debate to Democrats who are pushing to legalize abortion at the national level.
The Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 resulted in a wave of state-level bans on abortion. Republicans have faced consequences at the ballot box as a result, with Democrats winning elections where abortion rights have been central. Trump has criticized other Republicans, such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for going too far against abortion rights. Reports suggested in February that Trump privately favored a 16-week abortion ban, but his campaign declined to take a stance at that time, indicating that Trump would negotiate a deal that would satisfy both sides. The debate over abortion rights is likely to continue to be a central issue in the upcoming election.
