Former President Donald Trump’s recent comments on abortion, including his opposition to a Florida law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, have sparked a backlash from pro-lifers on social media.
“Trump has destroyed both the conservative and pro-life movements. He’s done something not even Barack Obama could do,” one X user said.
Former Vice President Mike Pence also posted on X, “I am pro-life and make no apologies for that.”
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Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at Desert Diamond Arena, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Georgia-based nationally syndicated radio host Erick Erickson also slammed Trump’s comments on his show X, saying, “Instead of focusing all of the attention on Kamala Harris’ interview tonight, Mr. Trump has decided to further divide the Republican Party. Not a good strategy for winning.”
Other users expressed anger at Trump’s “betrayal” of the pro-life movement that helped him win the 2016 presidential election.
“If pro-lifers were bold enough to punish Trump for his betrayal by not voting in November, Trump would lose in a big way and Republicans would never have the courage to betray on such an important issue,” one X user said. “Unfortunately, Trump knows the majority of you will still vote for him, so the betrayal will be even more intense.”
John Cardillo, a former police officer and online political influencer, said he would vote for Trump but would “criticize him when he promotes Democratic policies.”
“I don’t care how you interpret it, Trump told NBC he would vote for the Soros-funded unlimited abortion amendment in Florida,” he wrote on X.
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Pro-life activists protest outside a mobile van where Planned Parenthood offers free vasectomies and medication abortions, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. (Fox News Digital)
A spokesman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican who signed the ban into law after challenging Trump in the 2024 primary and losing, also responded to Trump’s suggestion that he might vote in favor of Amendment 4, which would create a constitutional right to abortion in Florida.
“Donald Trump has consistently said that abortions should never be allowed later in pregnancy when a baby could feel pain, and he has always championed parental rights. Amendment 4 would allow abortions later in pregnancy, eliminate parental consent, and open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions,” Taryn Fenske told X. “This is extreme and must be voted down.”
Conservative commentator David Limbaugh, brother of the late conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, said he supports Trump “wholeheartedly” but that he “needs to have staunch pro-lifers in his campaign entourage.”
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Participants in the annual March for Life rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on January 19, 2024. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
“Self-destructive mistakes are worse than run-of-the-mill mistakes, and appeasement strategies that alienate supporters rather than impress non-supporters are simply disappointing,” he told X.
Last week, Trump angered anti-abortion activists by posting on his Truth Social platform that “my administration would be great for anti-abortion people.” Women and Reproductive RightsHe also signaled his intention not to restrict access to abortion prescriptions.
In the election, Trump has countered Democratic attacks by saying he would leave abortion rights up to the states, as determined by the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and opposes a federal ban on abortion. Republicans also abandoned their longstanding position on abortion restrictions in July, but Trump remains opposed to late-term abortions.
Trump said Thursday that abortion would be considered a state issue but that the federal government would subsidize IVF treatment. In an email, the Trump campaign did not directly answer questions about what is a state and what is a federal issue.
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“I think six weeks is too short. I need more time,” Trump told NBC News when asked how he would vote on Florida’s Amendment 4, which will appear on the November election ballot. “I told them I want a few more weeks.”
Reporter Trump was then asked whether he would vote for the amendment.
“I’m going to vote that we need more than six weeks. I want you to understand, I know people have wanted to repeal Roe v. Wade for many years, 52 years. I got that done. They wanted it returned to the states. The exception was very important to me, very important to Ronald Reagan and very important to others who have walked this very interesting and difficult path,” Trump replied.
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The Trump campaign told Fox News Digital on Thursday night that the 45th president has not yet revealed how he will vote on the Fourth Amendment.
“President Trump has not yet said how he will vote in Florida’s referendum, only reiterating that he believes six weeks is too short,” said Caroline Leavitt, national spokeswoman for the Trump campaign.
Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
