Trump Takes Federalist Approach On Abortion
Former President Donald Trump has taken a clear stance on abortion, advocating for state-level control over the issue that avoids the federal regulation that has kept the practice legal for such a long time in the U.S.
Trump stated that abortion laws should be determined “by legislation or vote, or perhaps both,” leaving the power in the hands of state legislatures and voters. “My view is the states will determine, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land,” he stated.
Trump’s position echoes that of many conservatives who seek to reestablish respect for states’ rights when creating policy for their own communities, breaking from the federal government creating a one-size-fits-all policy for areas with distinct populations and cultures they wish to maintain — or “conserve.” In the case of protecting life, Trump’s strategy aligns with the U.S. Constitution’s silence on abortion and lack of federal power to enact related legislation.
This stance could appeal to both staunch pro-life supporters and those favoring a more decentralized approach. It is unlikely, however, to sit well with Republicans who want a nationwide federal abortion ban. The state governments remain, however, there for the taking.
🚨 Trump releases statement on abortion
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 8, 2024
Trump has arguably done more for the pro-life movement than any American, and certainly any president, in recent history, appointing three Supreme Court justices who overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion a “constitutional right.”
Trump’s stance, politically speaking, is one that takes the air out of a major driver of Democrat enthusiasm at the polls. Removing abortion as a major issue and removing the ability of Democrats to fearmonger their pro-abortion base into voting for a dangerously incompetent President Joe Biden is a strong strategic move that doesn’t overreach — too soon —after a historic victory over a legal regime that lasted several decades and demanded abortion as a “God-given” right.