Trump Speaking on Abortion Policy: "Each State Should Decide"...Calls for Caution

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump expressed the view that "each state should decide" on the abortion issue, which is one of the key issues in the upcoming November presidential election. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden intensified his attacks on Trump by re-pledging legislative measures to protect abortion rights nationwide.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

On the 8th (local time), Trump posted a video on the social media platform Truth Social, stating, "(The abortion issue) will be decided by each state through voting or legislation, and what is decided should become the law of that state." This is the first time Trump has expressed a specific stance on abortion ahead of the presidential election.

He said, "Many states will have different weeks (of pregnancy) when abortion is banned, and some states will be more conservative than others," adding, "Ultimately, it is about the will of the people of each state. You should follow your heart, religion, and faith."

However, he also added that exceptions should be made to abortion bans in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk. Regarding the controversial in vitro fertilization (IVF) issue, which Alabama's Supreme Court ruled in February that "frozen embryos are also people," he said, "I hope mothers find it easier, not harder, to have children, and this includes support for infertility treatments such as IVF."

Locally, Trump's stance on the abortion issue is considered relatively cautious compared to his hardline positions on other policy issues such as illegal immigration, trade, and security. This is interpreted as taking into account that abortion is a policy issue that unites the Democratic and progressive camps, and that opinions are divided even within the Republican Party.

Earlier, the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 2022 June ruling of Roe v. Wade, which recognized abortion rights at the federal level, leading some states like Texas to push for and enforce abortion bans. CNN reported, "In 14 states including Texas, most abortions are banned, and 7 states restrict abortions between 6 and 18 weeks of pregnancy." In Florida, a law banning abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy will soon be implemented.

This is also affecting the voting intentions of women and progressive voters who advocate for self-determination. In last November's election, a constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio state constitution, a Republican-leaning area, was passed, confirming a favorable situation for the Democratic Party.

President Biden immediately criticized Trump's remarks as expressing support for ultra-strict abortion bans in some states. In a statement released through his presidential campaign, he emphasized, "I will restore federal protections as defined in Roe v. Wade," adding, "A woman's fundamental right to choose will once again be the law of this land."

He continued, "Because of Trump, one in three American women already live under extreme and dangerous abortion bans that put their lives at risk, and this situation is worsening," adding, "Trump is worried that voters will hold him accountable in the election for overturning Roe v. Wade, and voters will do just that."

Meanwhile, criticism has also come from conservatives as Trump did not mention a nationwide abortion ban. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under the Trump administration, criticized, "Trump's retreat on the right to life is a slap in the face to pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020."