Reuters
- President Donald Trump has distanced himself from restrictive abortion laws that don’t allow for exemptions in cases of rape or incest.
- Though he didn’t name specific policies, anti-abortion laws have dominated discussion in Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri.
- This makes the president the latest Republican lawmaker to speak out against the restrictive laws.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
President Donald Trump has distanced himself from restrictive abortion laws, like those which have dominated discussion in Alabama, Georgia, and Missouri.
In a series of tweets posted late Saturday night, Trump didn’t reference any states by name, but said he opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk. He added this was the same stance held by former President Ronald Reagan.
"As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions – Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother – the same position taken by Ronald Reagan.
"We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new Federal Judges (many more to come), two great new Supreme Court Justices, the Mexico City Policy, and a whole new & positive attitude about the Right to Life," Trump tweeted, referring in part to a law that allows states to withhold federal family planning funds from groups that provide abortions.
He then urged Republicans to instead stay united on the issue, which has already pitted federal Republican lawmakers against state officials who have supported strict new rules that would to invite court challenges and potentially land in the Supreme Court to challenge previously established abortion law.
"The Radical Left, with late-term abortion (and worse), is imploding on this issue," Trump tweeted. "We must stick together and Win for Life in 2020. If we are foolish and do not stay UNITED as one, all of our hard fought gains for Life can, and will, rapidly disappear!"
Trump’s comments come days after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a near-total abortion ban bill that makes it a felony for a doctor to perform or attempt an abortion during any stage of pregnancy.
Trump’s 2020 campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany underscored his position, saying Saturday on MSNBC that she disagreed with the Alabama law that did not include exemptions for pregnancies by rape and incest.
"I personally am for the exceptions," McEnany said. "The president has been clear since the last campaign he’s for exceptions for rape and incest and life of the mother."
McEnany added she didn’t know if Trump would directly criticize the new laws but said that "he’s said repeatedly he’s for those three exceptions."
Despite his recent comments that serve a slight confrontation to anti-abortion laws, Trump has supported hardline policies in the past, including rules that would bar abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
See Also:
- James Comey tightens the screws on Attorney General Bill Barr, says ‘Trump has enough spokespeople’
- The House just passed the Equality Act, which includes major protections to prevent LGBTQ discrimination
- Abortion bans are popping up all around the country. Here are the states that have passed new laws to challenge Roe v. Wade in 2019
DON’T MISS: POWER RANKING: Here’s who has the best chance of becoming the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee
Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (Ellen Cranley)