Former President Donald Trump launched a national debate on abortion law on April 8 with his announcement that he believes the legality of the procedure should be determined by the states, not Congress.
“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. And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state,” President Trump said in a video message posted to his Truth Social account.
The reaction to the former president’s comments was swift.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said her organization was “deeply disappointed” with his remarks.
“Saying the issue is ‘back to the states’ cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. If successful, they will wipe out states’ rights.”
Meanwhile, President Trump’s two-time running mate, former Vice President Mike Pence, criticized his remarks as “a slap in the face” to his pro-life supporters.
“Republicans win on life when we speak the truth boldly and stand on the principle that we all know to be true—human life begins at conception and should be defended from womb to tomb. However much our Republican nominee or other candidates seek to marginalize the cause of life, I know pro-life Americans will never relent until we see the sanctity of life restored to the center of American law in every state in this country.”
President Trump has espoused pro-life views while also voicing support for allowing abortions in cases involving rape, incest, and risks to the life of the baby’s mother.
In recent months, he had suggested that he might serve as a mediator to help find a legal limit that those on both sides of the issue could support. And as recently as March 19, he seemed amenable to a federal 15-week limit on the procedure.
“The number of weeks now—people are agreeing on 15, and I’m thinking in terms of that,” he told WABC. “And it'll come out to something that’s very reasonable, but … 15 weeks seems to be a number that people are agreeing at. But I’ll make that announcement at the appropriate time.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who supports the idea of a federal abortion limit, told The Epoch Times that his position was one that “makes sense if you’re pro-life because pro-life is about the wellbeing of the unborn child. There’s nothing in the Dobbs decision that says the federal government can’t legislate in this area.”
“The pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child—not geography,” Mr. Graham said in a post on X.
President Trump responded to the senator’s criticism via Truth Social, charging that he was “doing a great disservice” to the GOP and America by taking a hardline stance on abortion.
Still, not all conservative reactions to President Trump’s statement were negative.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), for example, told The Epoch Times that he agreed with the former president that the matter should be decided by the states.
“As a practical matter, there’s not 60 votes for a national standard, so I think both as a legal and a practical matter, this is where that decision should lie,” Mr. Cornyn said.
And Students for Life Action President Kristan Hawkins, while disagreeing with some aspects of the former president’s stance, chose to accentuate the positives.
She also said she was glad President Trump didn’t back a 15-week limit, which she views as too permissive.
Still, she added that pro-life groups “clearly have some work to do” on showing the former president that abortion is indeed a federal issue.
“Your state lines should never mean the beginning or end of your human rights.”
