Former President Donald Trump continued to avoid pledging his support for a federal ban on abortion at any number of weeks. Instead, the 2024 candidate emphasized the ability of the anti-abortion side to negotiate now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
In a new interview, Trump pointed to the overturn of Roe sending the issue of abortion back to the states when he was asked about abortion policy under his potential administration.
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The former president explained that Roe would not have been overturned without his three appointed Supreme Court justices, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. "What it really did is it gave pro-life people the right to negotiate and a tremendous power to negotiate," he told John Solomon on his podcast John Solomon Reports. "Before, they had no chance of doing anything. You could kill a baby after 9 months in the womb. You could kill a baby after birth."
"They're in a tremendous position to get something where everybody can agree," he said of anti-abortion groups. "Now, I also got it brought back to the states. That used to be a very big deal, but now, it's not as big a deal for a lot of people."
Trump further reiterated his belief in exceptions for abortion. "Some people want, frankly, they want under no circumstances. Other people want the exceptions," he said.
"I'm a person that feels that the exceptions are very important for a lot of reasons," he added.
Trump also noted that exceptions are important for widespread appeal in an election.
According to the former president, "life of the mother, rape, and incest" exceptions are necessary. "If you don't have the exceptions, it's very, very hard, and I think that's been proven," he explained. "It's very, very hard to win an election."
Trump then reiterated that he afforded anti-abortion groups the "right to have great power and negotiation. Before, they had no power and negotiation."
"Now, the pro-life group actually has the upper hand, and they can negotiate something that will be very fair and very good and good for, you know, for the general population also," he added.
Asked for comment on Trump's latest statements, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America provided the Washington Examiner with a statement attributable to E.V. Osment, vice president of communications.
“In the new Dobbs era, Democrats are united in their extreme position of abortion on demand until birth nationwide — with the act of abortion being the focus, not the individual needs of the mother and her child. In contrast, the pro-life movement along with pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes ensure mothers have the comprehensive support they need to provide for their families," the statement reads.
"There are nearly 3,000 pregnancy resource centers nationwide that provide adoption referrals, food, parenting classes, clothes, diapers and much more. We are encouraged to see states like Florida and South Carolina pass bills that include funding for these important safety net programs that give women real options that empower them, options to care for themselves and their families," it continues.
Trump's ambiguous and noncommittal stance on federal abortion policy prompted a strong response from SBA Pro-Life America last month. In a statement, President Marjorie Dannenfelser called his delegation of the issue to states "morally indefensible" and pledged not to support any candidate who "refuses to embrace at a minimum a 15-week national standard to stop painful late-term abortions."
However, after a meeting with Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Dannenfelser's tune seemed to change.
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In a less specific statement, she said: “During the meeting, President Trump reiterated his opposition to the extreme Democratic position of abortion on demand, up until the moment of birth, paid for by taxpayers — and even in some cases after the child is born."
There was no mention of Trump's intentions for federal abortion policy as president or the group's usual insistence on a 15-week federal ban.