President Donald Trump, despite whether he’s chosen as the Republican nominee and elected again in 2024, helmed the most pro-life administration in history. Thanks to him, the Dobbs v. Jackson decision ended Roe v. Wade, with the three justices he nominated voting in favor of the ruling. However, Trump’s latest presidential run has caused some conflict with one of his longtime supporters, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
A leading anti-abortion group blasted former President Donald Trump after his campaign said he believes states should decide abortion laws. https://t.co/R76UadgbD1
— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 21, 2023
Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, released a statement explaining that the President believes the Supreme Court made the correct decision in leaving the issue in state hands. This statement caused SBA Pro-Life America to respond, stressing the importance of supporting a federal 15-week abortion ban to protect pain-capable unborn children nationwide.
SBA Pro-Life America’s president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, called Trump’s assertion “completely inaccurate” and “morally indefensible.” Dannenfelser believes that life is a matter of human rights and not state rights, arguing that abortion should not be decided solely at the state level, because it’s an endorsement of abortion up until the moment of birth. Dannenfelser warned that they would oppose any presidential candidate who did not support at least a 15-week national standard to stop painful late-term abortions.
It’s worth noting that SBA Pro-Life America has supported a 15-week abortion ban for some time, and it was the candidates who supported such a ban that were successful in the 2022 midterm elections. While Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) did not participate in the 2022 election, Senators JD Vance (R-OH) and Ted Budd (R-NC) lent their support in their respective states.
SBA Pro-Life America had previously supported Trump, reminding everyone that he “kept his promises to the pro-life movement” as president. However, Trump cast blame on pro-lifers, blaming them for the disappointing and unexpected 2022 midterms. Dannenfelser, who was an ally to Trump, had previously supported his statements. Nonetheless, this latest statement shows that the group has had enough, and they would not support him if he runs in 2024.
While Trump’s campaign made it clear that the issue should be left up to the states, the group stressed the importance of supporting a federal 15-week abortion ban. It’s up to politicians to respect human rights, put aside their states’ rights advocacy, and support federal protection laws to stop the most egregious human rights violation of our time.