Trump Elusive On Abortion—But Suggests DeSantis’ Law Is ‘Too Harsh’

Topline

Former President Donald Trump declined to say whether he supports a ban on abortion at more than six weeks of presidency, but suggested the Florida law signed by his rival Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) was “too harsh”—adding to the elusive nature of Trump’s stance on abortion as the 2024 GOP presidential field remains divided on the issue.

Former President Donald Trump speaks with reporters while in flight on his plane after a campaign … [+] rally at Waco Regional Airport, in Waco, Texas, March 25, 2023, while en route to West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Key Facts

Trump is “looking at all alternatives” when it comes to abortion regulations, he told The Messenger in an interview published Monday when asked if he supports Florida’s restrictive new law, which Trump noted was viewed as “too harsh” by “many people within the pro-life movement.”

“A lot of people don’t even know if he knew what he was doing,” Trump added, referring to DeSantis.

Trump also took credit for Roe v. Wade’s reversal, telling the outlet “nobody else could have done that but me . . . I was able to do it [by nominating]

three excellent judges,” repeating a claim he made during a town hall with CNN last week.

Trump was similarly non-committal about his stance on abortion during the CNN event, declining to say whether he would support a federal ban on abortion, while claiming Roe v. Wade’s reversal gave the pro-life movement “negotiating power” when it comes to future abortion legislation.

During both interviews, Trump said he supports exceptions to abortion bans, including rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger, and repeated his claim that “radicals are people that would have a baby destroyed, killed at the end of the ninth month or even after birth.”

Contra

GOP presidential contender and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley also declined to endorse a federal abortion ban, telling CBS on Sunday that passing legislation prohibiting abortions past a certain point in pregnancy is not politically realistic. “In order to do a national standard, you’d have to have a majority of the House, 60 Senate votes and a president. We haven’t had 60 pro-life senators in 100 years,” she said. Haley said she does see a federal role in abortion, however, and will aim to “save as many lives and help as many moms as possible” if elected president.

Big Number

69%. That’s the percentage of Americans who are dissatisfied with the country’s abortion laws—a record high, according to a February Gallup poll. Nearly half, 46%, said they wanted laws to be less strict, while only 15% said they want stricter laws.

Key Background

DeSantis, who has yet to declare his presidential candidacy but is widely expected to announce a run in the coming weeks, signed Florida’s six-week abortion ban into law in April, though it will only go into effect if the Supreme Court rejects a challenge to the state’s current 15-week that is working its way through the legal process. The GOP has largely failed to reach a consensus when it comes to abortion restrictions, and party leaders, including Trump, have attributed the messaging issue to losses in the 2022 midterm election. “Articulate where you stand,” Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McCaniel said last month, while characterizing the issue as “a critical message we have to get out before 2024.” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is also considering a run for president, recently said he backs a 20-week abortion ban. 2024 GOP presidential contender, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, supports a federal ban, with some exceptions, though he signed a state law in 2021 that mandated a near-total ban, without exceptions for rape and incest.

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