South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham and former President Donald Trump are at odds over the controversial issue of abortion. While Trump recently reiterated his stance that the issue should be left up to individual states, Graham has been a vocal supporter of federal restrictions on abortion since pushing for a 15-week ban in 2022. With the upcoming election potentially hanging in the balance, the divide between the two prominent figures within the Republican Party is drawing attention.
In a video released on his Truth Social platform, Trump explained his position on abortion, stating that it should be a decision left to the states. This is a reversal from his previous stance, where he had supported federal restrictions on the procedure. The announcement received immediate backlash from pro-life advocates, but Trump did not rule out the possibility of signing federal limits if they were to be passed by Congress.
Graham, on the other hand, remains steadfast in his support of federal restrictions on abortion. In a recent appearance on NBC News, he stated, “We know that the Dobbs decision did not say that there’s no federal role. There are three laws on the books at the federal level. So the idea that Dobbs prevents the federal government from acting, I think, is an error.” Graham also warned against the Republican Party abandoning their opposition to late-term abortion, as it could be detrimental to their support from most Americans.
The disagreement between Trump and Graham comes after the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, where the court overturned Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in 1973. Many Republicans blame this decision for their failure to win the expected “red wave” in the 2022 midterm elections. However, there is a fear that abandoning the issue of abortion could hurt the party’s support from their evangelical base, who are passionate about the issue.
Trump’s stance on leaving the decision to the states aligns with the majority of Republicans. According to recent polling, a significant portion of the electorate agrees with this position as well. The belief is that the decision should be fought state-by-state, with some states successfully implementing their own bans, such as Louisiana, where a ban was passed through legislative action.
However, some pro-life advocates argue that this approach is not sufficient. Susan B. Anthony Pro-life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser stated, “Saying the issue is ‘back to the states’ cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. If successful, they will wipe out states’ rights.” Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has publicly clashed with Trump since leaving office, labeled his statement as “a slap in the face” to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Despite the divide within the party, many Republican campaigns are currently focused on other issues such as the economy, inflation, and immigration, where the Democrats are seen as weak in recent polling. This shift in focus could be a strategic move to avoid the contentious abortion issue, which may not be a top priority for voters. Nonetheless, the difference in opinions between Trump and Graham highlights the ongoing debate within the Republican Party on how to handle this sensitive topic.
The debate over abortion is not a new one, and it remains a divisive issue among Americans. With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, many states, particularly those with Republican-controlled legislatures, have passed restrictive laws on abortion. These laws have been met with pushback and legal challenges from pro-choice advocates. The decision to leave the issue to states has drawn criticism from both sides, with pro-life advocates fearing the loss of states’ rights and pro-choice advocates arguing for reproductive rights to be protected at the federal level.
The upcoming elections will be a test for the Republican Party as they balance the views of their diverse base. While Trump’s stance may align with a majority of Republicans, it does not sit well with some influential figures within the party, illustrating the difficulty in maintaining a cohesive platform. With the issue of abortion likely to remain in the national spotlight in the coming months, it will be interesting to see how both parties address it and how voters respond.
