Abortion rights have been one of the most divisive and polarising topics particularly contested in contemporary American politics. Trump, in this race, seems to be constantly contradicting and reaffirming his stance on this issue. This leaves voters in a state of perplexity, unable to understand what his government may stand for.
Background
Abortion refers to the medical process used to terminate a pregnancy. Access to safe pregnancy termination resources is part of the larger sexual healthcare. In 1973, through the Roe v. Wade, the United States decriminalised abortion throughout the nation. In 2022, Roe v. Wade was overturned which gave individual states to decide their position on abortion. The pro-life vs pro-choice debate has been especially heated since the judgement was overturned in 2022. One side argues that the foetus is its own person and deserves the right to live while the other side argues for women’s autonomy over their bodies.
Donald Trump is a candidate of the Republican Party in the United States. They are known to be the more conservative group between the Republicans and the Democrats. The Republicans have historically stood against abortion, and have strongly supported abortion bans.
Trump’s Recent Remarks
Although Trump comes from a conservative political party which has never been in support of abortion rights, his recent comments point towards a different stance. He has deserted his party’s anti-abortion stand by announcing that his administration would do great things for women and their reproductive rights. He has said that he is planning to vote in favour of the Florida State Amendment which guarantees abortion access in the state. This caused a lot of confusion among the voters which led to him re-assessing his position. The very next day, on 30th September, however, he claimed that he plans to vote against the amendment thereby denying abortion rights to women in the state.
Trump’s Position
Trump, today, finds himself in a very tricky position. The feminist movement and its supporters are increasingly asking for more bodily autonomy and demand that abortion rights be accessible to all. On the other hand, the conservatives of America have a pro-life stance on the issue. By declaring a definitive stance, Trump is sure to lose support from either of the sides. However, not having a definitive stance is also making him lose a lot of support. Many claim that Trump has abandoned the Republicans and its other conservative supporters by showing his support for the abortion act. A majority of the American population seems to be in support of abortion rights but changing his policies drastically does not guarantee the support of all the pro-choicers either. This is difficult terrain to navigate for Trump.
