NEW DELHI: Former US president Donald Trump on Sunday expressed his support for a national abortion ban during a recent interview, but refrained from specifying the exact number of weeks at which such a ban should be enforced.
Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming White House race, hinted that he would “soon” propose a timeline for ban.
In a conversation with ‘Fox News Sunday’, Trump addressed a previous report by The New York Times suggesting his inclination towards a 16-week abortion ban with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or maternal health concerns. However, he avoided confirming this publicly to avoid potential backlash from conservative supporters.
Trump’s stance on the duration of pregnancy at which abortions should be prohibited remained ambiguous, with him stating that he would provide a recommendation in the coming weeks. He expressed confidence that his conservative Supreme Court nominations had influenced the court to lean towards restricting federally guaranteed abortion rights in 2022. Following a recent Supreme Court decision empowering states to set their own abortion regulations, some states have imposed stringent bans, while others like Maryland have reinforced abortion rights through legislation.
The debate over a national abortion ban continues to be a focal point for Democrats, including President Biden, who emphasise public opinion against such a ban. Trump acknowledged the political complexity of the issue, recognizing the necessity of including exceptions in any ban proposal to secure electoral support.
Reflecting on the impact of abortion views on elections, Trump underlined a Republican candidate’s defeat in Pennsylvania in 2022 due to strong anti-abortion stances. He highlighted the existence of abortion bans after a specific gestational period in countries like France and across Europe.
Meanwhile, former vice president Mike Pence criticised Trump for not taking a firmer anti-abortion stance during the 2020 campaign, emphasizing the importance of supporting a ban from at least 15 weeks. Pence, a vocal evangelical, clarified that he would not endorse Trump for the upcoming election. The ongoing discussions around abortion policies underscore the divisive nature of the issue within the political landscape.
Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for the upcoming White House race, hinted that he would “soon” propose a timeline for ban.
In a conversation with ‘Fox News Sunday’, Trump addressed a previous report by The New York Times suggesting his inclination towards a 16-week abortion ban with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or maternal health concerns. However, he avoided confirming this publicly to avoid potential backlash from conservative supporters.
Trump’s stance on the duration of pregnancy at which abortions should be prohibited remained ambiguous, with him stating that he would provide a recommendation in the coming weeks. He expressed confidence that his conservative Supreme Court nominations had influenced the court to lean towards restricting federally guaranteed abortion rights in 2022. Following a recent Supreme Court decision empowering states to set their own abortion regulations, some states have imposed stringent bans, while others like Maryland have reinforced abortion rights through legislation.
The debate over a national abortion ban continues to be a focal point for Democrats, including President Biden, who emphasise public opinion against such a ban. Trump acknowledged the political complexity of the issue, recognizing the necessity of including exceptions in any ban proposal to secure electoral support.
Reflecting on the impact of abortion views on elections, Trump underlined a Republican candidate’s defeat in Pennsylvania in 2022 due to strong anti-abortion stances. He highlighted the existence of abortion bans after a specific gestational period in countries like France and across Europe.
Meanwhile, former vice president Mike Pence criticised Trump for not taking a firmer anti-abortion stance during the 2020 campaign, emphasizing the importance of supporting a ban from at least 15 weeks. Pence, a vocal evangelical, clarified that he would not endorse Trump for the upcoming election. The ongoing discussions around abortion policies underscore the divisive nature of the issue within the political landscape.