Former President that helped him win in 2016 — is heavily against abortion bans. Polls consistently show that roughly 60% of the public opposes the Dobbs decision and blanket bans. Support for abortion rights has also increased since the 2022 ruling.
Instead of answering CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins’ question about whether he would support a federal abortion ban, Trump bobbed and weaved. The end of Roe had given abortion opponents “negotiating capability,” he said.
To negotiate what?
“Some people are at six weeks; some people are at three weeks, two weeks,” Trump said, referring to the point in pregnancy after which some Republicans would ban abortion.
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Would he sign a federal abortion ban? Trump evaded, but his party’s position made it impossible to dodge completely.
“We have a great negotiating ability, and I think we’re going to be able to get something done,” he said.
Trump did state that he support exceptions to abortion bans for rape, incest and saving the life of the mother. Republican candidates who opposed such exemptions in key 2022 swing-state races, like in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, were pummeled by Democratic attack ads and at the polls by voters.
Still, Trump made sure that the electorate heard him take credit for ending a half-century right that stood as a cornerstone of women’s freedom.
“I was able to terminate Roe v. Wade, after 50 years of trying ― they worked for 50 years,” Trump said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. They worked ― and I was even ― I was so honored to have done it. We are in a very good negotiating position right now, only because of what I was able to do.”
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