Former President Trump on Monday said he was proud to have Roe v. Wade overturned but took the position that abortion policy should be left to states to decide.
“My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint,” Trump said. “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.
“Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative than others and that’s what they will be,” he continued. “At the end of the day this is all about the will of the people. You must follow your heart, or in many cases your religion or your faith."
He noted, however, that he is "strongly in favor of exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.”
The president also gave his full backing to in vitro fertilization (IVF).
"The Republican Party should always be on the side of the miracle of life and the side of mothers, fathers and their beautiful babies. IVF is an important part of that," Trump said. "And our great Republican Party will always be with you in your quest for the ultimate joy in life."
Trump encouraged supporters to vote in November, emphasizing that in order to change the culture, Republicans must be in power.
"You must follow your heart on this issue but remember, you must also win elections to restore our culture and in fact to save our country, which is currently and very sadly a nation in decline. Our nation needs help. It needs unity. It needs us all to work closely together…we have to bring our nation back from the brink…and we will, we will do it, I promise you."
Update:
Some pro-life groups expressed their disappointment with the former president's position.
“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," said Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America's President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Saying the issue is ‘back to the states’ cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. If successful, they will wipe out states’ rights.
“With lives on the line, SBA Pro-Life America and the pro-life grassroots will work tirelessly to defeat President Biden and extreme congressional Democrats," the statement added.
Other groups, like Students for Life, highlighted what they considered the positive aspects of his statement but said there's still work to be done to educate Trump about "the many ways that abortion has been made federal."
We clearly have some work to do to educate President Trump in the many ways that abortion has been made federal. But with the mutual goals of supporting families and welcoming young children, I can work with this.
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) April 8, 2024
To be clear though, the Pro-Life Movement is united that abortion is a federal issue, and we won’t stop working until every child, in every state, is protected in life by law and service. Your state lines should never spell the beginning or end of your human rights.
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) April 8, 2024
One final thought: We clearly have some work to do to educate the GOP on the lawlessness of a predatory IVF industry, whose own sloppiness has caused the painful headlines we all have seen. It’s an industry in need of regulation & change, even as we understand the deep desires of…
— Kristan Hawkins (@KristanHawkins) April 8, 2024