Former President Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), have softened their stance on abortion in the final months before the election in an apparent attack on Democrats.
During the vice presidential debate on Tuesday, President Trump declared that he would veto any domestic abortion ban, although he had previously avoided saying whether he would veto the bill.
“Everyone knows that under no circumstances would I support a federal abortion ban and would in fact veto it, because it would be based on the will of the voters (the will of the people!) Because it’s up to the states to decide,” Trump wrote in an all-caps post across social media platforms.
During the Sept. 10 presidential debate with Vice President Harris, President Trump repeatedly refused to say whether he would veto a nationwide abortion ban, calling the question an unnecessary one.
“I'm not in favor of banning abortion, but it doesn't matter, because the states have now taken over this issue,” Trump said during the debate. “There's no need for that.”
He previously publicly contradicted Vance, saying he was told Trump would veto any anti-abortion bill.
This latest pledge is part of a pattern by President Trump, who is keenly aware of the political responsibility of taking a hard line on abortion. Every time President Trump makes statements or actions that are in sympathy with the anti-abortion movement, he has been pursued by muddying the waters.
President Trump has sought to maintain an ambiguous position on abortion for fear of losing support from religious conservatives and standing among some pro-choice moderates.
For example, he argued that Florida's ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy is too strict and said the administration would be “great for women and their reproductive rights.” But he later said he would “vote no” on any ballot measure that would overturn Florida law and protect access to abortion.
President Trump's latest message is unlikely to sit well with leaders of the anti-abortion movement. Leaders have at times expressed frustration with the former president's approach, particularly his lack of support for a nationwide ban.
Still, they acknowledge his important role in the judicial nomination movement that ended Roe v. Wade and see him as a better choice than the alternatives.
After the discussion, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, said: “Lively and active” President Trump's agenda included cutting funding to family planning programs and placing abortion opponents in key positions in federal agencies.
“We take this word from President Trump that he wants to end federal involvement in abortion,” Hawkins told The Hill in a text message. “We've been calling for a New Deal from President Trump's new administration, and the Biden-Harris team has a lot to cover to address everything they've done to force abortion across American life.” There is a basis for this.
But Patrick Brown, a fellow at the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, said abortion opponents shouldn't get their hopes up.
“He believes the contract he signed with the pro-life movement in 2016 has been fulfilled. …He got [Roe] Now that it's flipped, he's ready to put this in the rearview mirror,'' Brown said.
“He fundamentally doesn't care about this issue, and we know that.”
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement to The Hill that the anti-abortion movement's best hope lies in defeating Harris and ensuring Republican control of Congress. He said there is.
“Our main goal is to defeat them or see decades of lifesaving progress undone by a nationwide universal abortion mandate,” she said.
President Trump's latest announcement comes as his running mate, Vance, also suggested a more flexible approach on abortion during a debate with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
“We have to do better to regain the trust of the American people on this issue where, frankly, they don't trust us,” Vance said. “I think that's one of the things that Donald Trump and I are trying to do. As Republicans, we want to be kin in the fullest sense of the word.”
Vance also sought to distance himself from past support for legislation banning abortions after 15 weeks nationwide, calling for “setting some minimum national standard” rather than using the word “ban.” He claimed to support it.
Trump and Vance's comments are the latest sign of the political liability Trump faces amid relentless Democratic attacks on the issue.
But abortion rights advocates are skeptical that softening their rhetoric will encourage more women to vote Republican closer to the election.
“Focus on what kids do, not what they say,” said Angela Vazquez Giroux, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Voting. “Donald Trump has a track record on reproductive rights, and if re-elected, he and his allies will step up their attacks.”
Vázquez Giroux added that Trump and Vance's comments were evidence of “an attempt to save face” as the Republican Party's stance on abortion becomes “increasingly politically toxic.”
“We don't know if people will vote for Trump at the end of the day,” said Jennifer Driver, senior director of reproductive rights at Six Action. “I hope that in this moment people can understand the dishonest nature of J.D. Vance and Donald Trump.”
