Former president Donald Trump’s relaxed approach to abortion didn’t go well with some of the pro-life groups.
Trump has been mum on whether he would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president again.
He also blamed abortion opponents for Republicans’ 2022 election losses and said he would find a compromise with Democrats if given a second shot at the White House.
He attacked his opponent Ron DeSantis, who recently signed a 6-week abortion ban in Florida.
DeSantis Did a “Terrible Thing”
“I think what he did is a terrible thing and a terrible mistake,” Trump said. “But we’ll come up with a number, but at the same time, Democrats won’t be able to go out at six months, seven months, eight months and allow an abortion.”
Trump spoke about the issue with Kristin Welker on Meet the Press. During the interview, Walker asked Trump if he would sign a 15-week abortion ban if elected president.
Willing to Negotiate
“I would sit down with both sides and I’d negotiate something, and we’ll end up with peace on that issue for the first time in 52 years. I’m not going to say I would or I wouldn’t,” Trump said. “I mean, ‘DeSanctus’ is willing to sign a five-week and six-week ban.
While Trump’s opponents used his comments as a reason to attack the Republican frontrunner on his position on the fraught issue, anti-abortion groups had a mixed reaction.
“I think all pro-lifers should know that he’s preparing to sell you out,” DeSantis said of Trump’s position.
According to Politico, some groups say they are willing to give Trump more time to clarify his stance. They expect he will eventually support a national abortion ban.
Pro-Life Groups Considering Other Candidates
Other groups, who are more ruffled by his laissez-faire approach, are considering making a primary endorsement and redirecting their campaign budget to other races where Republican candidates are more supportive of their cause.
“He won’t feel pressure until it’s applied, and we’re willing to apply it,” said Kristi Hamrick, the chief policy strategist with Students for Life of America. “You cannot ignore the human rights issue of our time and still get our vote.”
Considering 15-Week Ban
Trump didn’t give a definite response on the 15-week abortion ban during a recent interview.
“Well, people are starting to think of 15 weeks, that seems to be a number that people are talking about right now,” Trump said about the 15-week ban. “I would sit down with both sides, and I’d negotiate something and we’ll end up with peace in that issue for the first time in 52 years. I’m not going to say I would or I wouldn’t.”
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America told POLITICO that it plans to spend more than $78 million to turn out anti-abortion rights voters in 2024.
Needs Clear Position to Keep Base
“Looking at a general, he’s going to need all Republicans to come home if he’s going to beat Joe Biden,” said Billy Valentine, SBA’s vice president of political affairs. “He’s going to need the base in order to win ultimately, and he’s going to need a clear position. In the absence of a clear position, the Democrats are going to define him.”
Other GOP presidential candidates have aligned themselves with SBA’s call for a federal ban, but the organization is boxed in by Trump’s dominant lead and is unlikely to endorse him, several of its leaders told POLITICO.
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