Former President Trump is struggling to address the issue of abortion, a hotbed of Democrats and a politically difficult one for his own party, ahead of the November presidential election.
Trump has repeatedly urged Republicans to prioritize winning the election, even if it means softening their stance on abortion, but his approach risks alienating social conservatives without the benefit of winning over moderate voters.
“The advice we always give to our clients on this issue is don't stand in the middle of the road because you'll get hit by traffic coming from both directions,” said Chuck Coughlin, a Republican consultant in Arizona.
President Trump made a series of politically fragmented comments about reproductive issues last week.
He argued that Florida's law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy was too strict, and claimed on social media that his administration would be “great for women and their reproductive rights.” He later said he would vote against any referendum that would overturn the Florida law and protect abortion access.
Trump also pledged that the government would cover the cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment if elected, an announcement that appeared to catch some in his party off guard, even as he boasted about ending Roe v. Wade, a ruling that created uncertainty in access to IVF.
Prominent anti-abortion activist Lila Rose argues that Trump's stance on reproductive rights is at odds with how he governed during his first term, citing his criticism of some state-level abortion bans as too strict, his shift in the Republican platform on abortion, and his support for taxpayer-funded in vitro fertilization.
“This killed the enthusiasm of Trump supporters,” Rose posted. Social Platform XThey urged President Trump to change course and capitalize on the momentum that has grown among conservatives following his opposition to a Florida voting measure.
Trump's campaign and his supporters have asserted that the former president has a strong record of success that appeals to anti-abortion activists and social conservatives.
“President Trump cares about parents, babies and families, and his strong pro-life policies reflect that. His support for protecting and expanding IVF for families should be applauded by the pro-life community as it will further advance the culture of life,” Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, chair of the House Republican Conference, said in a statement provided by the Trump campaign.
President Trump has been trying to walk a tightrope on the issue of abortion since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
The former president has touted his role in ending Roe by appointing conservative judges, has said abortion should be left to the states, and has called the proliferation of restrictions “beautiful to watch.” He has spoken out in favor of exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's life is at risk.
He said he would not sign a nationwide abortion ban. He refused to say He would veto such a ban if it reached his desk, and he has portrayed Democrats as extremists on the issue, arguing that he supports abortion up until the moment of birth, which is extremely rare.
The former president also claimed that abortion is no longer a big issue for voters, a claim that is contradicted by polls on the issue.
The New York Times/Siena College Poll of registered voters In seven battleground states, the abortion issue has become increasingly important, especially for female voters, in deciding who to support in November.
The poll, conducted Aug. 6-15, found that the economy remains the top issue for voters, but 14% of voters said abortion was the most important issue in deciding their vote, up from 11% in May, and 22% of women said abortion was the top issue, up from 17% in May.
Overturning Roe in 2022 marks a transformation in how reproductive issues, and abortion in particular, sway voters, according to Ashley Kirzinger, vice director of polling research at health policy research group KFF.
“Before Dobbs, the voters who were particularly concerned about abortion and who turned out to vote were mostly pro-life conservatives,” Kirzinger said, “and now we're seeing a shift and they're mostly pro-choice.”
Kirzinger noted that most voters, regardless of political affiliation, support the right of people experiencing pregnancy-related emergencies to access abortions and the right of patients to travel to access abortion services.
Harris' campaign has long viewed abortion as a winning issue and has signaled its intention to focus on the issue in the final stages of the campaign.
When Vice President Harris took over the presidency from the Democrats, reproductive rights activists predicted she would bring the abortion issue to the Republican Party in a way that it could not ignore.
Harris has more knowledge about abortion issues than President Biden, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has been able to appeal to voters on issues like in vitro fertilization by talking about his own experience with fertility treatments.
Democrats on Monday kicked off a “Fight for Reproductive Freedom” bus tour in Trump's home state of Florida, with at least 50 stops in Republican, Democratic and purple states leading up to Election Day. Speakers will include Democratic lawmakers and women directly affected by post-Roe abortion bans.
Jessica Mackler, president of Emily's List, a pro-abortion rights political action committee, said Trump's recent comments on abortion show he is “afraid.”
“It's clear from his recent lies and shifting stance on abortion that Donald Trump is afraid — and he should be. After extensive research, EMILY's List has known for a long time that this election is for women to decide, and we vote for abortion,” she said.
Some Republicans say Trump's efforts to capitalize on all sides of the abortion debate could dilute the issue's impact on voters in November, when other policies will come to the forefront.
“If he does this in October, it's going to be a real problem,” one Republican strategist said. “The final argument is going to be about the economy. The American people feel like the economy isn't working. [Harris] It's a continuation of this economy.”
