Former President Trump took aim at conservative lawmakers who criticized his refusal to endorse federal abortion legislation.
In a more than four-minute video he posted on Truth Social, the former president said he was proud to put an end to Roe v. Wade and put abortion back under the purview of individual states on Monday.
“My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint,” Trump remarked.
“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.”
Trump was very clear that there should be exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, or if the mother’s life is at risk due to the pregnancy. He also encouraged the Republican party to stand behind in vitro fertilization, while condemning “radical” Democrat lawmakers for “up to and even beyond the ninth month.”
Trump received plenty of push-back from both sides of the aisle.
His former Vice President Mike Pence said Trump’s “retreat” on abortion legislation was a “slap in the face” to the millions of pro-lifers who voted for him in both elections.
He alleged that the majority of Americans “long to see” protections for unborn children at the federal level, and bashed GOP lawmakers for being “all too ready to wash their hands of the battle for life.”
President Trump’s retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020. By nominating and standing by the confirmation of conservative justices, the Trump-Pence Administration helped send Roe v. Wade to the…
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) April 8, 2024
“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,” he wrote.
The Biden campaign claimed that Trump was actually “endorsing every single abortion ban in the states, including abortion bans with no exceptions,” despite clearly outlining exceptions in the video.
“He’s bragging about his role in creating this hellscape,” campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa responded.
President Biden concurred in his own statement on Monday. “Let there be no illusion. If Donald Trump is elected and the MAGA Republicans in Congress put a national abortion ban on the Resolute Desk, Trump will sign it into law,” he commented.
I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states’ rights issue.
Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography. https://t.co/WloOJ0ImaW
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024
Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R -SC), who has been championing a bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks, said he “respectfully” disagreed that abortion was a states’ rights issue.
“Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography,” he tweeted Monday morning.
Trump clapped back on Truth Social, accusing Graham of “doing a great disservice to the Republican Party, and to our Country.”
He said that the senator should “spend more time focusing” on the “non-existent border” and “never-ending wars,” instead of fixating on federalized abortion legislation.
“The Democrats are thrilled with Lindsey, because they want this Issue to simmer for as long a period of time as possible,” Trump snarked.
He stated that the “Radical Left Democrats” won’t ever “approve of anything” that Graham or the Republicans want. “They love this issue, and they want to keep it going for as long as Republicans will allow them to do so,” the ex-president noted.
Trump added that “hardliners” like Graham fought the issue unsuccessfully for years, until he “came along and got the job done.” He said that Graham should “get on with helping Republicans win elections, rather than making it impossible for them to do so.”
“I blame myself for Lindsey Graham, because the only reason he won in the Great State of South Carolina is because I Endorsed him!” he wrote in another post.
“You know the Democrats are “reeling” when they have no response to my recent Statement on Abortion, other than, “He’s only kidding. He will change it” or, ‘He won’t do that, he’ll do something else,’” Trump concluded.
“I guess this means that we will win the Election because they are so bad on every Issue, this is the only Issue they are focused on!”
BRavo move on Graham damn RINO weasel Pay 2 play type
I am very much pro life BUT, I am tired of both parties making this the ONLY thing they are concerned about. The economy, illegals, deviates running our country, blm, open borders have way more impact on our country
Unfortunately, that is the only thing the left has, giving the right to kill their babies. President Trump had to make a stand for life and it was a good one. Did Grahm forget what scotus said in their ruling? giving the decisions up to the states. That’s where it belongs. Further, I have no idea why traitor pence is saying anything. The life of the child is always upmost important, but to stop there, we must consider other things: incest, rape and the life of the mother. I might also add, drop our debt by defunding the racist planned parenthood. It was always a demonrat project, kill the inferiors. Even hitler was impressed with the idea.