In a January appearance at the Fox News town hall, former president Donald Trump proudly took responsibility for ending the constitutional right to abortion.
Proud Admission
Donald Trump’s formerly positive relationship with Fox has soured since his 2020 election defeat. In a January town hall, his first live appearance on the network in nearly two years, Trump shared with hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum his sense of achievement in contributing to the downfall of reproductive rights in the U.S.
Undecided Voter’s Question
The town hall was part of his effort to compete with the Republican debate airing simultaneously on CNN. An undecided female voter, considering both Trump and Ron DeSantis — who at this point had not yet dropped out of the Republican presidential primary — raised a pressing issue about the Republican frontrunner’s recent distancing from unpopular abortion restrictions.
Concerns Over Pro-Life Stance
She pointed out, “I’ve been vocal in celebrating with you all of your pro-life victories from the past, but then in this campaign, you’ve also blamed pro-lifers for some of the GOP losses around the country, and you’ve called heartbeat laws like Iowa’s terrible.”
Trump and the Right to Life
The voter elaborated on her concerns, saying, “I’d just like some clarity on this because it’s such an important question to me. I’d like for you to reassure me that you can protect all life, every person’s right to life without compromise.”
Trump Takes Credit
In response, Trump claimed responsibility for the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that had affirmed abortion rights across the country, by a Supreme Court with three justices he had appointed.
“I’m proud”
“That is a great question, appreciate it, too,” Trump replied, adding that she “wouldn’t be asking that question, [or] even talking about the issue — for 54 years they were trying to get Roe V. Wade terminated, and I did it. and I’m proud to have done it.”
Abortion Exceptions
During the town hall, Trump echoed a sentiment he has expressed at campaign rallies, combining firmness with caution.
In Reagan’s Footsteps
He stated, “Now, I happen to be for the exceptions, like Ronald Reagan, with the life of the mother, rape, incest. I just have to be there, I feel. I think probably 78% or so, a poll, about 78%. It was Ronald Reagan. He was for it. I was for it.”
Trump’s Warning
The ex-president added, “But I will say this: you have to win elections. Otherwise, you’re going to be back where you were, and you can’t let that ever happen again. You’ve got to win elections.”
DeSantis’ Abortion Ban Impact
Trump pointed out that Florida Governor DeSantis’s decision to enact a six-week abortion ban might have contributed to DeSantis’s dip in polling. DeSantis ended up losing to Trump in Iowa by almost 30 points, and later dropped out of the race.
Pregnancy Awareness Debate
“A lot of people say, if you talk five or six weeks, a lot of women don’t know if they’re pregnant in five or six weeks,” he stated. “I want to get something where people are happy. You know, this has been tearing our country apart for 50 years. Nobody’s been able to do anything.”
“The Radicals”
Trump also accused Democrats of being “the radicals” and claimed that they endorse abortion in the late stages of pregnancy or even post-birth, which is false.
Trump’s “Moderate” Abortion Stance
Previous reports from Rolling Stone about Trump mulling a “moderate” stance on abortion, and he’s also been publicly worried about the GOP’s extreme anti-abortion stance harming its electoral chances.
Appealing to Different Audiences
This discussion highlighted the 77-year-old Trump’s challenge in maintaining a balance between appealing to his conservative supporters and the broader electoral considerations, as he has historically shifted his stance from “pro-choice” to “pro-life.”
Avoiding Dictatorship, Promising Deportation
At the town hall, Trump took the opportunity to state that he would not act like a dictator while simultaneously promising what he termed “the largest deportation effort in the history of our country.”
Trump’s VP Selection
When asked about his choice for vice president, Trump responded, “Well, I can’t tell you that, really. I mean, I know who it’s going to be, but – ” Upon Bret Baier’s request for a “hint,” Trump simply replied, “We’ll do another show some time.”
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