Topline
Former President Donald Trump took credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in one of his most direct stances on abortion Wednesday morning, just two days after the 2024 presidential candidate slammed Florida’s six-week abortion ban for being “too harsh” and as its Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis dissed Trump for his noncommittal stance on abortion.
Former President Donald Trump took credit for the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, even … [+]
Key Facts
Trump claimed in a Truth Social post he was responsible for the Supreme Court’s momentous 6-3 decision last June to overturn Roe v. Wade, saying he accomplished the feat “much to the shock of everyone” (the court’s six-justice majority was composed of three Trump nominees: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett).
Trump, who launched his 2024 campaign late last year, argued in the post he put the “Pro Life movement in a strong negotiating position over the Radicals that are willing to kill babies even into their 9th month, and beyond,” and claimed without him, states would not be able to enact abortion bans.
His comments, however, come just two days after he suggested Florida’s six-week ban on abortion is considered “too harsh” by “many people within the pro-life movement”—his latest jab at DeSantis, who signed the ban into law and is widely speculated to run against Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries.
Tangent
Trump has been noncommittal on his stance on abortion, telling The Messenger on Monday he is “looking at all alternatives” regarding abortion regulations, though he has recently taken to praising the three justices who were confirmed to the court during his time in the Oval Office, who he said were instrumental in overturning Roe v. Wade. In his town hall interview on CNN last week, he said the court’s decision “gave pro-life something to negotiate with,” and called the “other side” a group of “radicals.” Trump also said in his town hall he would support exceptions for rape, incest and cases that could endanger the mother.
Contra
On Tuesday, DeSantis slammed Trump for declining to take a stance on Florida’s six-week ban, telling reporters Trump “didn’t give an answer” as to whether he would sign a similar bill banning the procedure at six weeks, marking one of his first head-on attacks of the former president, and his former GOP ally. DeSantis, who has been reluctant to insult Trump, said he was “proud” to sign the bill.
Big Number
14. That’s the number of states that have total bans on the procedure, following the court’s decision last June, which left women’s access to abortion up to individual states. Those bans are in effect in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin, while five other states (Arizona, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Utah) have bans at sx, 15, 18 or 20 weeks. Bans have been blocked in eight states.
Further Reading
Trump Avoids Definitive Stance On Abortion—But Suggests DeSantis’ 6-Week Ban Is ‘Too Harsh’ (Forbes)
DeSantis Takes Rare Jab At Trump On Abortion Stance (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/05/17/trump-takes-credit-for-abortion-bans-after-calling-floridas-ban-too-harsh/