Former President Donald Trump on Monday declined to endorse a federal abortion ban, asserting that states should have jurisdiction over the matter, despite pressure from anti-abortion groups urging him to support a nationwide restriction.
Trump’s stance on the issue has been inconsistent for months, as he has vacillated between flirting with the idea of endorsing a broader abortion ban and expressing concerns about the political ramifications for Republicans. While some members of his party have advocated for federal restrictions, Trump has highlighted the electoral challenges associated with the issue, while also taking credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a constitutional right to abortion.
Meanwhile, President Biden and Democrats have made abortion rights a focal point of their agenda in the election.
“My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state,” CNN reported Trump as saying in a video posted on Truth Social after teasing last week that he would release a statement.
“At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people,” Trump added. “You must follow your heart or in many cases, your religion or your faith. Do what’s right for your family and do what’s right for yourself.”
Trump reiterated his support for exceptions for abortion across the country but stopped short of committing to enshrining those exceptions into law in his statement. Throughout the past quarter-century, and particularly since his candidacy in 2015, Trump’s stance on the abortion issue has been inconsistent.
During the 2024 campaign, he has provided few details about the specific policies he would endorse in a post-Roe vs. Wade era if elected president. Despite being a resident of Florida, Trump has not disclosed his position on the state’s new six-week ban on abortion.
Moreover, when he has hinted at support for a nationwide ban, his statements often seem to contradict official statements released by his campaign. Trump has maintained that he supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother, a position he reiterated in a video statement on Monday. However, it is important to note that the president does not have the authority to dictate how states craft their abortion laws.
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