Staff Reports
The best part of Donald Trump’s administration, at least from a conservative perspective, was undoubtedly his judicial appointments. Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett have all proven themselves to be fantastic choices for the bench, consistently upholding the constitutional order through their decisions. Their contributions were particularly notable in their role in striking down Roe v. Wade, a victory that would not have been possible without them.
That being said, it is now quite bizarre to witness the former President backpedaling on the issue of abortion. Trump’s response to the possibility of a national heartbeat bill was deflective, and even more surprising was his open criticism of Governor Ron DeSantis’ six-week ban on abortion in Florida. It seems that Donald Trump, the supposed pro-life candidate, has taken a different stance on the matter.
This shift in position should come as no surprise. In a 1999 interview on Hardball with Chris Matthews, Trump expressed his disdain for abortion but made it clear that he would never support a ban. However, during his 2016 campaign, he struck a deal with evangelical voters, promising to appoint pro-life judges if they voted for him. He followed through on that promise, but his recent remarks during a Meet the Press interview show a complete reversal. When asked about Florida’s six-week ban, he labeled it as a terrible mistake, contradicting his previous pro-life stance.
It is disingenuous to label DeSantis’ legislation as a mistake. The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade has given states the authority to make their own decisions on abortion. Florida elected officials exercised their right and passed a law that they believed represented the views of their constituents. Similar bans of 15 weeks or less are in place in multiple states, such as Tennessee. Criticizing these states for enacting laws that reflect their values is unreasonable.
Moreover, Trump’s claim of being able to bring people together on this issue is highly unlikely. Blue states, such as California and New York, have been moving in the opposite direction, enacting laws that further expand access to abortions. Trump cannot simply override the hard work and beliefs of states like Tennessee and Florida, where substantial efforts have been made to protect the sanctity of life.
Abortion is not a matter of negotiation or compromise. It involves the fundamental question of the right to life. There is no middle ground when it comes to whether or not a life should be terminated. Trump’s recent statements demonstrate that he is not the champion of the pro-life movement that many believed him to be. In fact, his positions align more closely with conservative Democrats than with the majority of Republicans. As we head towards the 2024 election, if it comes down to Trump vs. Biden, it is clear that there is little difference between them on this issue.
The repercussions of Trump’s wavering stance on abortion are significant. Abortion was a key issue that propelled him to victory in 2016, and it could very well be the issue that costs him the presidency in 2024. Trump relied on the support of pro-life voters, who trusted him to pursue their agenda. However, if he abandons that agenda, it would be a breach of the political contract he made with his base.
We are in a different political and cultural landscape than we were in 2016. Roe v. Wade has been overturned, and abortion is a divisive issue across the nation. Pro-life voters have historically had limited options within the political parties. However, Trump’s recent statements show that he is not the unwavering ally they had hoped for. In the realm of social issues, there is little daylight between him and Biden. It remains to be seen how this will impact his standing among conservatives in future elections.
