Donald Trump released a long-awaited statement on abortion, saying that individual states should have the right to decide restrictions on the matter.
Trump also reiterated his support for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
“The Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, and healthy American families. We want to make it easier for mothers and families to have babies, not harder,” Trump said in a statement shared to Truth Social. “That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every state in America, like the overwhelming majority of Americans, including the vast majority of Republicans, Conservatives, Christians, and pro-life Americans.”
“I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby. What could be more beautiful or better than that? Today, I’m pleased that the Alabama legislature has acted very quickly and passed legislation that preserves the availability of IVF in Alabama. They really did a great and fast job,” Trump continued. “The Republican Party should always be on the side of the miracle of life and the side of mothers and fathers. They’re beautiful babies, and that’s what we are. IVF is an important part of that, and our great Republican Party will always be with you in your quest for the ultimate joy in life.”
The former president noted that many people have asked him “what my position is on abortion and abortion rights, especially since I was proudly the person responsible for the ending of something that all legal scholars, both sides wanted and, in fact, demanded be ended.”
Discussing Roe v. Wade, Trump said, “It must be remembered that the Democrats are the radical ones on this position because they support abortion up to and even beyond the ninth month. The concept of having an abortion in the later months and even execution after birth, and that’s exactly what it is, the baby is born, the baby is executed after birth, is unacceptable, and almost everyone agrees with that. My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, 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. At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people.”
Trump urged voters to follow their conscience on the subject, doing “what’s right for your family” and “what’s right for yourself.”
“Do what’s right for your children. Do what’s right for our country and vote.”
“Like Ronald Reagan, I am strongly in favor of exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. You must follow your heart of 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,” Trump added. “Our nation needs help. It needs unity. It needs us all to work closely together. Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative, everyone, we have to work together. We have to bring our nation back from the brink, and that’s where it is.”
Several Republican leaders agreed with Trump’s position.
Co-Chair of the GOP Doctors Caucus, Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), told Fox News Digital, “As a pro-life conservative, I do not support abortion but I believe the Supreme Court made it clear that the Constitution protects the right of states to determine their own policies.”
Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) said, “The U.S. Supreme Court ensured that states can now make decisions regarding abortion and I support the court’s decision. The radical Left demands absolutely no limit on how or when pre-born babies can be aborted and who pays for it.”
Similarly, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) wrote on X, “We support President Trump’s statement today. We believe wholeheartedly in protecting IVF, protecting exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother, and today abortion is left to the states. That is the law of the land.”
Other Republicans said there should be a continued push for a “national minimum standard limiting abortion.”
Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) wrote, “I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states’ rights issue. Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography.”
“The states’ rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision,” he noted. “The science is clear – a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain.”
“I will continue to advocate that there should be a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.”
