Trump Touts Pro-Life Stance While Backing Away From National Abortion Ban, Conservatives Are Not Happy

On the heels of Friday's Supreme Court decision to protect the abortion pill mifepristone, Donald Trump reminded supporters in Iowa on Saturday of his efforts to limit abortion, citing his appointment of three pro-life justices to the Court, all of whom voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

“Those justices delivered a landmark victory for protecting innocent life. Nobody thought it was going to happen,” Trump said of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett in a video address to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, reported Politico.

“Together we achieved more for our values than any other administration in the history of our country, and it is not even close,” Trump said, adding that he took “historic action to protect the unborn.”

Pro-Life Group Blasts Trump

On Thursday, Trump came under fire from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America organization for saying abortion “is an issue that should be decided at the state level” rather than a national ban. The organization has said it would not support any White House candidate who did not support a 15-week federal abortion ban.

“The Supreme Court made clear in its decision that it was returning the issue to the people to decide through their elected representatives in the states and in Congress,” said the group’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser in a news release. “Holding to the position that it is exclusively up to the states is an abdication of responsibility by anyone elected to federal office.”

Where Does The Former Pres Stand On Abortion?

Based on his recent comments about leaving the controversial issue to the states, it appears Trump likely views a federal abortion ban as a hot-button issue that could cost him votes. After all, three in five Americans say they believe abortion should be legal in most cases, according to a January 2023 NPR/Ipso poll. A Gallup Poll reflected a similar sentiment.

Meanwhile, the battle over abortion rights has “catapulted to the center of the emerging 2024 election season, igniting Democrats, dividing Republicans and turbocharging sensitive debates over health care,” writes the NY Times.