Trump's Legacy: Abortion Laws In America

Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of being responsible for the erosion of women's reproductive rights in America. In 2022, three justices appointed by Trump to the Supreme Court voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, the ruling that had protected federal abortion rights since 1973. This decision has had a devastating impact on women's access to reproductive healthcare, with Republican-run states introducing draconian abortion bans. Trump has attempted to distance himself from these restrictions, claiming that abortion laws should be determined by individual states. However, critics argue that a second Trump administration would empower the anti-abortion movement and lead to further attacks on reproductive freedom. Trump's stance on abortion has sparked controversy and divided opinions, with some accusing him of spreading misleading claims to gain political advantage.

Melania Trump's views on abortion

In her memoir, "Melania", former first lady Melania Trump reveals that she is pro-choice and has been a passionate believer in abortion rights throughout her "entire adult life". This stance has shocked many, given her husband's anti-abortion views and policies.

In the book, she writes:

> "It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government."

She also states:

> "Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman's fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes."

Furthermore, Melania Trump argues that restricting a woman's right to choose is the same as denying her control over her body:

> "Restricting a woman's right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life."

She also defends the right to abortion later in a pregnancy, which is often demonized, saying that these cases are extremely rare and usually occur due to severe fetal abnormalities or threats to the mother's health.

Trump's views on IVF

Former US President Donald Trump has been criticised by both conservatives and liberals for calling himself the "father of IVF".

Trump made the comments during a Fox News town hall event in October 2024, where his shifting stance on abortion came under scrutiny. During the event, Trump was asked a question by a pro-life mother-of-three who was concerned about abortion bans impacting access to IVF treatment.

Trump responded by saying that he was "the father of IVF", and that he only recently learned what the procedure entails. He went on to say that he supports IVF and that the Republican Party is "totally in favour" of the procedure.

Trump's comments sparked backlash from both sides of the political aisle. Democrats pointed out that his abortion bans have already threatened access to IVF in some states, and his platform could end IVF altogether. Some Republicans also criticised his stance, saying that it could alienate pro-life voters who oppose IVF.

Trump has since clarified his position, saying that he supports the availability of IVF and that he backs exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother. He has also said that he would consider religious exemptions for organisations and businesses that have concerns about IVF involving the "killing of embryos".

Trump's running mate, JD Vance, has indicated that he would support a national abortion ban, a move that Trump's wife, Melania, is believed to be against.

Trump's claims about Dobbs v. Jackson

The case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was a landmark decision by the US Supreme Court in 2022, which held that the US Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. The case concerned the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi state law banning most abortion operations after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson was made possible by former President Donald Trump's appointment of three conservative justices to the Court: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. In a leaked draft of the majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson would not impact other rights such as same-sex marriage and contraception. However, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a concurring opinion arguing that the Court should reconsider past decisions on these issues.

Trump took credit for the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, calling it "the biggest WIN for LIFE in a generation". However, in private, he was reportedly more ambivalent, speculating that it might be "bad for Republicans" in the midterm elections. Following the decision, there were calls from Democrats, including President Joe Biden, for Congress to pass legislation to codify the rights established by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Trump's lies about Democrats

While Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of abortion laws, the blame for any specific legislation cannot be placed solely on him. However, it is worth noting that during his presidency, three justices were installed in the Supreme Court who later voted to strike down Roe v. Wade, the ruling that had protected federal abortion rights since 1973. This decision ultimately allowed Republican-run states to institute strict abortion bans.

Trump has also been accused of spreading lies about his political opponents, the Democrats, to deflect blame and stoke fear and anger. One such lie is the claim that Democrats favour infanticide. During a debate with Kamala Harris, Trump falsely stated that her vice-presidential pick supported abortion in the ninth month of pregnancy and even execution after birth. These statements were fact-checked and proven to be false, as no state in America permits the killing of a baby after birth.

Trump's lies are not limited to his political opponents but extend to his own record as well. He has falsely taken credit for positive outcomes, such as claiming that his economy was the "greatest" ever and that he had a perfect call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, he has tried to deflect blame by lying about his role in certain controversial issues. For example, he denied ever signalling openness to restricting contraception, even though his administration's threats to reproductive rights, including fertility treatments like IVF, have been well-documented.

Trump's lies are not without consequences. By spreading misinformation, he undermines democracy and stokes fear, hatred, and distrust of democratic elections. His lies are often amplified by right-wing media, making them more potent and harder to refute. Ultimately, Trump's tactic of bending reality and bamboozling the public serves to conceal his failures, criminality, incompetence, disloyalty, and ignorance.

Trump's stance on state abortion laws

In 2024, Donald Trump's stance on state abortion laws is that they should be determined by individual US states. He has said that he would veto any federal abortion ban that Congress passed. This is a change from his stance as a presidential candidate in 2016, when he supported a federal abortion ban at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Trump has criticised six-week abortion bans, such as the one pursued by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, as overly restrictive and politically toxic. He has also said that abortion bans early in pregnancy go too far, suggesting that Republican candidates need to be moderate enough on the issue to "win elections". Trump has also stated that he supports exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother, as well as the availability of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).

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