Trump announces abortion stance: leave it up to the states, protect IVF
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Former President Donald Trump announced his official stance on abortion as the 2024 campaign kicks up, declaring the issue ought to be left up to the states.
Trump emphasized that he also supports protections for IVF, or in vitro fertilization, which is used to help a woman be able to bear a child.
The former president maintained he is proud that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which tossed the issue back to the states.
“Now, it’s up to the states to do the right thing,” Trump said. “I am strongly in favor of exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.”
“Many states will be different,” he said. “Many will have a different number of weeks, or some will have more conservative [policies] than others – and that’s what they will be. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people. You must follow your heart, or in many cases, your religion or your faith.”
On IVF, Trump touted strong protections for the practice, saying it is the position of the Republican Party to “make it easier for mothers and families [to] have babies, not harder.”
“That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF,” Trump said. “In every state in America, like the overwhelming majority of Americans, including the vast majority of Republicans, conservatives, Christians and pro-life Americans, I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby.”
The former president, vying to turn abortion into an offensive issue against his opponents rather than defending on the issue, said many Democrats support late term abortions, even up until – and after – the moment of birth.
“It must be remembered that the Democrats are the radical ones on this position, because they support abortion up to, and even beyond, the ninth month,” Trump said. “The concept of having an abortion in the later months, and even execution after birth – and that’s exactly what it is. The baby is born, the baby is executed after birth – it’s unacceptable.”
President Joe Biden, on course for a rematch with Trump this November, has been hitting Trump on abortion for the entirety of the campaign.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has also kicked up abortion rhetoric, in a state that could be crucial for deciding the victor of the presidential election.
“We know Trump wants a national abortion ban,” Whitmer said, days before Trump’s initial stance declaring he, in fact, opposes a national ban.
Biden has said Trump “doesn’t trust women” over his pro-life rhetoric in the past, and has continuously called out Trump for bragging his appointed Supreme Court justices overturned Roe.
Abortion will be an issue in Florida for the 2024 election after the Supreme Court of Florida ruled in favor of placing a ballot initiative before voters that can constitutionally protect the practice up to “viability” – somewhere around 20-25 weeks.
The state has a six week ban that will also take effect, now that the court has also upheld the 15 week abortion ban.
