USA
Trump does not support a national abortion ban
Donald Trump says he is proud to be responsible for ending abortion rights nationwide. photo
© Frank Franklin/AP/dpa
The issue of abortion plays a major role in the US presidential election campaign. Donald Trump is now positioning himself – without really committing himself. In doing so, he disappoints tough opponents of abortion.
The Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has positioned himself on the important domestic political issue of abortion in the US election campaign and wants to leave the issue to the states.
It is up to the states to “do the right thing,” Trump said in a video message that he published on the platform he co-founded, Truth Social. He was explicitly not in favor of a national ban on abortion. One of the country’s most prominent anti-abortion groups said they were “deeply disappointed” by the move.
At the same time, the 77-year-old emphasized that he was proud that he was responsible for the end of the nationwide right to abortion. Now each state can regulate for itself how long and under what circumstances abortions are permitted. Some took a more conservative approach than others. “In the end it’s about the will of the people.”
Legal patchwork
Almost two years ago, the US Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion that had existed for around 50 years, triggering a political earthquake. As a result, state parliaments can regulate by law whether and under what conditions abortions are permitted. Since then, a number of Republican-governed states have largely banned abortions – a legal patchwork has emerged.
During Trump’s term in office, the Supreme Court moved far to the right by appointing several judges. That was what made the decision possible.
In recent months, Trump has sent different signals about whether he would support a national abortion ban in a second term and at what week of pregnancy he rejects abortions. The Republican now avoided the latter. He himself is in favor of there being exceptions, for example in the case of rape, incest or in cases where the mother’s life is in danger. But people have to follow their hearts, their faith and their religion when it comes to this issue. And in the end it’s also about winning elections.
Majority supports abortion rights
The religious right has been trying to restrict abortion rights in the United States for decades. The Supreme Court’s ruling in 2022 was their greatest success – but is not the end of their efforts to restrict access to abortion. The topic plays a major role in the current US election campaign. The Democrats of US President Joe Biden, who wants to run for a second term in November, were recently able to score points with voters on the issue. Many people are fighting for women to be able to decide for themselves. A majority of people in the United States support abortion rights, polls show.