In comments made Monday, Donald Trump simultaneously took credit for overturning Roe v. Wade and also held off on calling for a national abortion ban. Trump said it should be left up to the states, which disappointed some pro-life allies.
In response, Biden said he doesn’t believe him and that he doesn’t trust Trump to not sign a ban if it came across his desk.
Trumps’ Comments
Trump uploaded a four-minute video to the social media platform Truth Social meant to address a growing division among Republicans regarding their feelings on fertility treatments and abortion. This topic has become a growing concern among voters.
In February, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling that threatened a fertility treatment called in vitro fertilization after the US Supreme Court overturned protections provided by Roe V. Wade.
Supporting the Creation of Families
Trump affirmed his commitment to helping families grow, saying unequivocally that he wants fertility treatments legal in every state.
“Under my leadership, the Republican party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, and healthy American families, we want to make it easier for mothers and families to have babies, not harder. That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every state in America,” said Trump.
Trump Bragging
In the video, Trump bragged about his hand in overturning Roe v. Wade, which threw away abortion protections under federal law. This overthrow caused a scramble among states to implement their own legislation.
“Many people have asked me what my position on abortion and abortion rights. Especially since I was proudly the person responsible for the ending of something that all legal scholars, both sides, wanted and demanded be ended, Roe v. Wade,” Trump said.
Up to the States
In comments that have since angered some of Trump’s pro-life allies, he decided not to publicly support a national ban on abortion, instead adopting a “let the states decide” argument.
“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,” Trump said in the video.
Anti-Abortion Groups Disappointed
Several anti-abortion groups, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed their disappointment at Trump’s refusal to take a stronger stand against abortion.
“We are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s position. Unborn children and their mothers deserve national protections and national advocacy from the brutality of the abortion industry. The Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act,” the group’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said in a statement.
Abortion is a Tricky Issue for Trump
A string of recent victories for pro-life advocates has made it tricky for Trump to come out in full support of a ban.
A once key coalition for Republicans, suburban women, have been instrumental in getting abortion protections installed in places like Ohio, Kentucky, and Virginia. Some of these states lean Republican in elections and are still passing these kinds of protections.
Trend in Suburban Voters
Suburban voters, especially women, have been trending to the left of the political spectrum each election cycle. The Hill reported that CBS News exit polls from 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020 show suburban women voters moving consistently from 47 percent Democrat voters to 54 percent.
These women will likely play a key role in deciding the outcome of the election in November. For this reason, Trump cannot overplay his opposition to abortion.
Biden Calls Out Trump
During a fundraiser in Chicago, Biden took some time to respond to Trump’s social media video.
“No one trusts Donald Trump,” Biden said, pointing out how Trump is someone who will make political deals with anti-abortion advocates in his base. Biden called out Trump’s lack of endorsement for an abortion ban as an illusion, saying “If they put one on his desk, he said he’d sign it.”
Biden Hits Trump on Abortion
President Biden characterized Trump’s video as a “scramble” and proof that the issue of abortion is rattling Republicans.
“Trump’s in trouble and he knows that. Just today he released a video where he’s scrambling on the abortion issue,” Biden said during the Chicago event. “He’s worried voters are going to hold him accountable for overturning Roe v. Wade, and for the cruelty and chaos that it’s created … Voters are going to hold him accountable for the extreme six-week bans.”
Making the Best of the Situation
Biden had been banking on Trump to come out harder against abortion since he and Democrat strategists want to make the issue center stage ahead of November. However, it seems there is still room for Biden to drive a wedge between Trump’s base.
Democrats have been itching for any reason to bring the issue into the public spotlight. It’s an issue they see as a critical weakness of Trump that could be the key to victory in the presidential election because it could motivate voters to turn out for Biden.
Biden Gearing Up For Abortion Fight
The same day that Trump released his video, the Biden campaign was quick to put out a new ad video that highlighted the struggle of a Texas woman who nearly died after doctors denied her an abortion.
“More than 1 in 3 women in America now lives under an abortion ban, with more on the way. Donald Trump did this.” the ad message posted to Joe Biden’s X account said.
