Trump’s changing stance on abortion, explained in as much detail as possible

Less than a day after former President Donald Trump appeared to suggest on Thursday that he would consider restricting access to mifepristone, a pill used for medical abortions, his campaign angrily retracted Trump’s statement, claiming the former president misheard the question.

Trump’s record on reproductive rights during his first term is clear: Three of his picks for the Supreme Court led to the overturning of Roe v. WadeBut with that record a political liability, the former president has been evasive about how far he would go to restrict abortion in a new administration.roe U.S. This week, he further confused the issue.

During a rambling news conference on Thursday, a reporter asked Trump, “Will you instruct your FDA to remove the use of mifepristone?” Mifepristone is one of two drugs used for medical abortions. Drugs like mifepristone are now used for most abortions and have enabled people across the country to circumvent bans in some states.

“Of course, you can do some … additional things, absolutely,” Trump responded. “Those things are very public and very humane. But you have to be able to vote, and what I want to do is have everybody vote. The voting is happening as we speak,” he added.

Like many of Trump’s statements, his answer was vague. From the wording of the question, he seemed to acknowledge that in addition to a national abortion ban, the federal government could take other “measures” to “complement” state restrictions. Trump did not elaborate on what measures he would take, but His ambiguity Leading There is a lot to explain His answer means that he will at least Happy with restrictions Access to abortion pills.

In a statement Trump campaign press secretary Carolyn Levitt clarified his remarks to NBC News, pushing back on that interpretation, calling some of the questions at the briefing “tough to hear,” and the former president insisted he In a debate earlier this yearLevitt said in a statement: “His position on mifepristone has not changed — the Supreme Court has issued a unanimous decision on the issue and the matter is resolved.”

The confusion and subsequent correction raise an important question ahead of Election Day: What exactly is Trump’s position on abortion? Ultimately, the answer could have a major impact on access to reproductive health care, including the abortion pill, for people across the United States.

Throughout the campaign, Trump has repeatedly said that states should set their own abortion laws and that he supports exceptions to the abortion ban in cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is threatened. Levitt stressed that he also supported the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss a challenge to access to mifepristone on the grounds that the plaintiffs did not have standing. “The Supreme Court just approved the abortion pill, and I agree with the decision they made, and I’m not going to stop it,” he said. In the June presidential debate On CNN.

Trump also did not support a federal abortion ban in his 2024 campaign platform.

“My view is that now everyone has access to abortion from a legal perspective, and the states will decide that through voting or legislation, or both. Whatever they decide, it has to be the law of the land. In this case, it’s state law.” Trump said in his “Truth on Earth” video in April.

In July, the Republican National Committee Adjusting policy platforms Reflecting Trump’s views, he gave up many Support from Republican House members The federal abortion ban is intended to eliminate Some heat The problem Republicans face on this issue is that Americans are generally at least Some abortion options. But it also seeks to obscure how he is dismantling abortion rights in other ways.

Yet even as Trump expressed more moderate positions, he still touted his role in the Supreme Court’s decision. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organizationoverturning the long-standing roePossibly. That ruling, handed down in 2022 by the Supreme Court, with all three Trump-nominated justices elected in the majority, has allowed many states to approve severe restrictions on reproductive health care.

“After 50 years of failure, with no one coming close, I was finally able to put an end to Roe v. Wade,” Trump said. Written on Truth Social in May 2023“Without me, there would not be six weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever the deal ultimately is.”

During his first term, Trump also supports a 20-week federal abortion ban and said he would sign it if Congress approved it.

While Trump may have indicated he wouldn’t support a ban this time, it’s not his only way to restrict abortion at the federal level. While he hasn’t publicly committed to additional restrictions, many Republicans — including his allies — are urging the party to adopt more restrictions, including on medication abortion.

Anti-abortion rights advocates have long advocated for the FDA to revoke its approval of mifepristone, one of the recommendations in the 2025 plan. Republican Policy Wish List This is being pushed by the Heritage Foundation and other Trump allies. Trying to distance yourself From the documentation, Mixed feelings.

Some see Trump’s recent comments as leaving room for such ideas to be considered. Although he has said abortion policy should be left up to states, a January 2024 report The Washington Post reportedTrump has also privately expressed interest in “Washington’s role on this issue.”

If Trump wins and his administration decides the federal government should play a role, action on medication abortion would fall within the executive branch’s purview. Mifepristone is available by mail and via telemedicine, both of which some conservatives hope a second Trump administration would limit.

Directing the FDA to take action to restrict mifepristone is one way. Urging the Department of Health and Human Services to require in-person visits to get the abortion pill is another. Asking the Justice Department to enforce the Comstock Act, which penalized sending abortion pills through the mail, is a third.

While Trump has tried to take a less extreme stance on the issue — perhaps out of fear of turning away moderate female voters who were mobilized in recent elections — his latest comments suggest he does not yet have a straight answer on medication abortion and are a reminder that he may be considering tougher policies if he wins in November.