But his attempt to appease competing factions of the anti-abortion movement left some conservatives disappointed, while the Biden campaign indicated Trump’s comments won’t be able to neutralize Democratic attacks.
Trump has flirted with endorsing a 15- or 16-week ban and has said for months that if elected he would “negotiate something” that would “make both sides happy.” But in a video posted on Truth Social early Monday, Trump brushed back calls for him to embrace a national ban and endorse a specific limit.
Instead, he argued Republicans need to win elections, and endorsing a national ban won’t help.
“Always go by your heart, but we must win. We have to win,” Trump said.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, one of the most politically powerful anti-abortion groups, had been lobbying Trump to endorse a 15-week ban and said it was “deeply disappointed” in Trump’s announcement.
“Saying the issue is ‘back to the states’ cedes the national debate to the Democrats,” SBA president Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. But, she said SBA still supports Trump and “will work tirelessly to defeat President Biden and extreme congressional Democrats.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a top Trump ally in the Senate who has previously introduced a bill to ban abortion after 15 weeks, said he respectfully disagreed with Trump’s position and would continue to advocate for a 15-week federal ban, with some exceptions.
The more hardline Students for Life America, which would like to see a total abortion ban, praised Trump for not endorsing a 15-week limit.
“Trump made the right call – and this leaves room for better action to be taken down the road,” the groups’ president Kristan Hawkins wrote on X.
Notably, Trump’s video did not rule out using executive action to restrict abortion, nor did it rule out signing a national ban should Congress be able to pass one— facts the Biden campaign was quick to point out.
“Let there be no illusion. If Donald Trump is elected and the MAGA Republicans in Congress put a national abortion ban on the Resolute Desk, Trump will sign it into law.” Biden said in a statement.
