In a recent report by the New York Times, it was revealed that former President Donald Trump has privately expressed support for a 16-week federal ban on abortion. This revelation has sparked a wave of criticism from President Joe Biden and his allies, who are leveraging this politically charged issue in the run-up to the November elections.
However, Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, has refuted the claim, stating that the former president has not committed to backing a national abortion ban. She further added that Trump would be willing to negotiate a deal that would satisfy all parties involved.
Despite this, Biden and other Democrats have seized on the report, accusing Trump of attempting to infringe on women’s rights. In a statement released on Friday, Biden said, “Trump is running scared, fearing that the women of America will hold him accountable for endangering their rights at the ballot box in November.”
Following the release of the Times report, the Biden campaign held a press call to criticize Trump on the issue. The Democratic National Committee also released a statement, asserting that “Trump is making it clear that access to abortion for all women is on the ballot this November.”
Trump, who is eyeing the 2024 Republican nomination for president, has often highlighted his role in overturning Roe v. Wade with his appointment of three Supreme Court justices who voted with the conservative majority in 2022 to eliminate federal abortion protections.
However, Trump has not made abortion a key part of his campaign speeches and has avoided outlining any specific abortion legislation he would push for if reelected. His reluctance to stake out a clear position on the issue comes as he has publicly acknowledged the abortion debate has plagued Republicans at the ballot box since Roe was overturned.
In contrast, Biden’s campaign has put abortion rights at the forefront of the 2024 race, with TV ads and a “reproductive freedoms tour” led by Vice President Kamala Harris. Recent polls suggest that a majority of Americans align more with the Democratic Party than the Republican Party on the issue of abortion.
Contributor: Arlette Saenz, CNN