Former American president Donald Trump is facing new blowback from anti-abortion activists for refusing to commit to national abortion restrictions and for calling Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' signing of a six-week ban on the procedure a "terrible mistake."
On the latest episode of NBC's "Meet the Press", Trump repeatedly declined to say whether he would support a federal ban on abortion. He said he could "live with" the procedure being banned by individual states or nationwide through federal action, though he said "from a legal standpoint, I think it's probably better" to be handled at the state level. Regarding the bill signed by DeSantis, which bans abortions before many women know they are pregnant, Trump said, "I think what he did is a terrible thing and a terrible mistake."
So far, the former president has dominated the 2024 field while at times spurning the anti-abortion groups that traditionally have huge influence in Republican primaries. But Trump's direct attack on DeSantis, whom he's long treated as his chief rival, could give the Florida governor new fodder as he tries to regain momentum in his campaign and solidify his second-place standing. Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, DeSantis campaign spokesman Bryan Griffin wrote of Trump: "If you want to appease Democrats, here's your guy. If you want to defeat the Democrats in 2024, (DeSantis) is the only choice." Another campaign spokesman, Andrew Romeo, distributed to reporters a roundup of conservative groups criticizing Trump and accused him of repeatedly compromising with Democrats. "Republicans across the country know that Ron DeSantis will never back down," Romeo said.
"We're at a moment where we need a human rights advocate, someone who is dedicated to saving the lives of children and serving mothers in need. Every single candidate should be clear on how they plan to do that," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Trump has approached abortion from a political stance, saying that the Supreme Court's decision gave conservatives room to negotiate new restrictions. He has argued Republicans' push for abortion restrictions hurt the GOP in the 2022 midterm elections and that GOP candidates need to do a better job of explaining the issue.
Calling himself "the most pro-life president in American history," the former president noted that three of his Supreme Court picks formed part of the conservative majority that overturned Roe.
Some Conservatives in some key states, including those backing his rivals, expressed displeasure after the interview. Among them was South Carolina state representative John McCravy, who sponsored the most recent, restrictive abortion measure, which bans the practice in his state after around six weeks of pregnancy. South Carolina will be among the early states to choose a nominee. McCravy described himself in an interview as "certainly disappointed." "It sounded completely out of step with his staunch support for life while he was president," he said. McCravy has endorsed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott in the 2024 GOP presidential primary but told AP last week, "Trump would probably be a close second, noting his Supreme Court appointments and his attending the March for Life rally in Washington.
Kristen Waggoner, CEO of the conservative legal organization Alliance Defending Freedom, also took issue. "Laws protecting the unborn are not a 'terrible mistake.' They are the hallmark of a just and moral society," she wrote on X. "Governors who protect life should be applauded, not attacked."