Trump was asked on Fox News Sunday about a February New York Times report. As a result, the ex-president said in a conversation with advisers that he liked the idea of a nationwide ban on abortion from the 16th week of pregnancy, with exceptions after rape or incest or if the pregnant woman’s health is in danger. However, he hesitates to go public with this position so as not to anger his conservative religious supporters.
US President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party are hoping to score points with female voters in the presidential and congressional elections in November with their support for abortion rights. Biden and the Democrats had already been able to develop mobilization power on this issue in the congressional elections in November 2022 after the majority conservative Supreme Court repealed the nationwide right to abortion.
The Supreme Court thereby gave US states the power to set their own abortion laws. Since then, around 20 states governed by conservative Republicans have enacted draconian laws against abortion. As a result, many women who want to terminate a pregnancy travel to other states, such as Minnesota, where abortion is legal.
For Biden’s likely re-election opponent Trump, however, abortion rights are a difficult issue as it could potentially cost him important votes from female voters. The right-wing populist enjoys strong support among conservative evangelical groups that vehemently reject abortion.