Why Many Don’t Trust Trump’s Flip-Flop on Abortion and IVF

On Thursday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz participated in their first television interview since leading the Democratic ticket. The discussion, hosted by CNN, centered on Harris’s evolving views on fracking, a critical industry in the swing state of Pennsylvania.

Addressing the scrutiny over her stance, Harris defended her position with confidence. “I made that clear on the debate stage in 2020 that I would not ban fracking. As vice president, I did not ban fracking, and as president, I will not ban fracking,” she affirmed to CNN anchor Dana Bash. “I’m very clear about where I stand.”

Overall, the interview maintained a low-key tenor, avoiding controversy—an approach that served Harris well during this crucial campaign period.

In contrast, former President Donald Trump stirred significant discussion during a rally in Potterville, Michigan, on the same day. Trump, currently facing intense scrutiny regarding his party’s stance on abortion rights, made an unexpected commitment to require insurance companies to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF). This statement comes after Democrats have criticized Republicans following Alabama’s Supreme Court temporarily halting IVF treatments in the state.

Earlier that day, Trump was questioned by an NBC News reporter about how he would vote on Florida’s forthcoming amendment to protect abortion rights. Trump responded, asserting that the state’s six-week ban is “too short” and suggested that “there has to be more time.”

In response to this comment, Trump’s campaign spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, quickly moved to clarify his remarks. She stated, “President Trump has not yet said how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida; he simply reiterated that he believes six weeks is too short.”

This clarification came after some anti-abortion activists, who typically support Trump, expressed disappointment with his stance. Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life America, criticized him on social media, stating, “So, President Trump clearly doesn’t want to be pro-life anymore. Got it. Pro-lifers are being screwed. We need to demand Trump re-consider.”

Hawkins also urged voters to remember their commitment to protecting unborn children, saying, “But don’t let this screw the babies we are fighting for. Vote against Kamala Harris.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, indicated that Trump did not indicate how he would vote on the Florida amendment during their direct discussions. “President Trump has consistently opposed abortions after five months of pregnancy,” Dannenfelser noted, adding that the proposed Amendment 4 would permit abortions past that point, suggesting a contradiction to his established views.

By Thursday evening, Trump affirmed to Fox News that he would oppose the Florida amendment, claiming that Democrats sought to allow abortion even until the ninth month of pregnancy. “All of that stuff is unacceptable, so I will be voting no for that reason,” he stated.

His running mate, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, faced awkward moments when asked by CNN about Trump’s abortion position, which resulted in sound issues leading to a break in coverage.

Democrats, meanwhile, remain skeptical about Trump’s vague promises regarding IVF. Senator Elizabeth Warren commented, “There is nothing in what Trump says that actually reverses the underlying policy. Nowhere do Trump and Vance stand up and say they will support a federal law to protect access to IVF.”

She pointed out that Vance had previously voted against Senate legislation aimed at safeguarding access to IVF treatments. The comments from Trump do little to assuage Democratic concerns, especially given his prior claims of dismantling Roe v. Wade by appointing three Supreme Court justices who played a direct role in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision.

Trump’s past admissions about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade complicate his position, making his recent statements even more uncomfortable for social conservatives who once rallied behind him. The former president, once viewed as an unlikely ally for the anti-abortion movement, now appears to be distancing himself from his earlier promises as he recognizes that abortion stands to be a significant liability for Republican candidates, even in Florida.

The complex dynamics between evangelicals and anti-abortion Republicans suggest a fragile alliance, and with Trump’s recent remarks, he finds himself increasingly at odds with some of his core supporters.

Source: CNN