Trump Says 'Vital' Federal Role Remains for Regulating Abortion
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) – Former President Donald Trump stated that the federal government plays a role when it comes to regulating late-term abortions. However, he declined to give specifics in a speech he gave to a conservative crowd on Saturday night.
Trump has been quiet about the abortion issue throughout his campaign to win a second term. This puts him at odds with his biggest rival for the Republican nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who implemented a six-week ban on abortions.
Trump said, "Of course, the federal government has a crucial role to play in protecting unborn lives," at the Faith and Freedom Coalition annual conference held in Washington, D.C., Saturday night. "We will defeat radical Democrat policies of extreme late-term abortion."
Abortions after 21 weeks are rare. They represent less than 1% of all abortions. These are usually due to fetal anomalies or dangers to the mother.
Trump praised his record for appointing judges to the Supreme Court. This gave the court the conservative majoritiy needed to overturn Roe v. Wade - the landmark 1973 decision that created federal protections against abortion.
Abortion is likely to be a major issue in the election of 2024. Republican candidates are courting Christian far-right voters by promising to ban abortion. Former Vice President Mike Pence and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott have both committed to a complete federal ban.
A Reuters/Ipsos survey conducted on April 11-12 revealed that 56% of respondents would be less inclined to vote for a candidate who supports legislation limiting abortion access, while 28% were more inclined to do so.