Former President Donald Trump is seeking to defend his pro-life credentials after labeling certain abortion limits a “terrible thing.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I was able to do something that nobody thought was possible, end Roe v. Wade. For 52 years, people talked, spent vast amounts of money, but couldn’t get the job done. I got the job done!”
“Thanks to the three great Supreme Court Justices I appointed, this issue has been returned to the States, where all Legal Scholars, on both sides, felt it should be. Now the Pro Life Community has TREMENDOUS NEGOTIATING POWER,” he continued.
Finally, Trump insisted:
“Like Ronald Reagan before me, I believe in the three exceptions for Rape, Incest, and the Life of the Mother. Without the exceptions, it is very difficult to win Elections, we would probably lose the Majorities in 2024, and perhaps the Presidency itself, but you must follow your HEART! In order to win in 2024, Republicans must learn how to talk about Abortion. This issue cost us unnecessarily, but dearly, in the Midterm.”
These posts come after he bizarrely decided to attack laws that ban abortion at six weeks as “terrible” things and mistakes while claiming he would negotiate the most wonderful, most beautiful, most amazing deal between the pro-life and pro-choice sides like nobody — including him — has been able to do before.
But his comments show how fundamentally flawed Trump’s view of the pro-life movement is. For those who view themselves as pro-life, they believe strongly and deeply that they are fighting to protect the most vulnerable lives. This issue is not just something pro-lifers will bend on. It is not as though the debate is around a 21% tax rate for individuals or a 24% tax rate.
Trump made the “terrible” comment when asked if he would support a six-week ban if he was re-elected. And here’s the thing, the answer was entirely unnecessary. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it left it up to the states to decide abortion laws.
He could have said it should be left up to the states, but instead, he decided to take the chance to attack Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for signing such a law.
And in doing so, he gave the Democrats a great sound bite. They can play Trump’s comment calling a six-week ban a “terrible thing and a terrible mistake” over and over and over again to argue politicians who support such a law are more “extreme” than even Trump.
But his political calculation does not seem too accurate. Yes, Republicans suffered a worse-than-expected midterm election. However, there were Republicans who signed heartbeat bills into law and won re-election, such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. So the idea that abortion was the issue that cost Republicans is not too substantiated.
Trump does deserve credit for appointing the three crucial Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe.
But he should really stop attacking pro-life activists and blaming them for Republican losses. And as long as he keeps calling their positions “terrible,” pro-lifers should be skeptical he would come up with some wonderful, beautiful, amazing deal that will have both sides singing kumbaya.
