Trump Moves to Contain Fallout of Abortion, IVF Rows

AFP\APP
Islamabad: Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the White House, sought on Friday to manage the backlash following his recent remarks that appeared to distance himself from hardline conservative positions on reproductive rights.
Trump, 78, has faced criticism from conservatives after announcing that, if re-elected, he would ensure free access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a costly fertility procedure that many in the anti-abortion movement oppose. The controversy deepened when he criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban as too restrictive and hinted at supporting an upcoming ballot measure that would legalize abortion until a fetus becomes viable. However, before a rally in Pennsylvania on Friday, Trump retracted his comment, telling Fox News, “I will be voting no.”
Despite this, conservatives have expressed concern over Trump’s inconsistent positions on abortion. His recent claims that his administration would be “great” for reproductive rights have further fueled the backlash, with the new Republican policy platform abandoning calls for a national abortion ban. Anti-abortion groups swiftly criticized Trump’s remarks, warning that he risks alienating his base.

Evangelical theologian Albert Mohler noted that Trump’s positions seemed “almost calculated to alienate pro-life voters,” while conservative commentator Erick Erickson suggested that Trump’s stance on abortion “will be a bridge too far for too many.”

At the Johnstown rally, Trump notably avoided discussing reproductive rights, even after his significant IVF announcement the previous day. Meanwhile, the campaign of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris seized on the issue. Mini Timmaraju, of the Reproductive Freedom for All lobby group, highlighted that “the majority of Americans support abortion access, they support IVF, they support contraception,” adding that Trump “will do anything to distract from his abysmal, horrifying record on this issue.”

Over the years, Trump has shifted his stance on abortion, initially identifying as “pro-choice” before advocating for “some form of punishment” for women seeking the procedure. While he often touts his appointment of Supreme Court justices who ended federal protections for abortion access in 2022, he has recently shown concern that Republicans are out of touch with most voters on reproductive rights.

Trump’s IVF pledge seems aimed at appealing to moderate voters but has upset conservatives who have long opposed taxpayer-funded health insurance. In June, nearly every Senate Republican voted against ensuring IVF access, and over half of House Republican lawmakers have sponsored legislation that could threaten its legality.

Republicans are divided on fertility treatments like IVF. While some view them as beneficial to American families, others, who believe life begins at conception, oppose IVF because it can result in unused embryos. Abortion rights activists, worried that the Supreme Court decision threatens IVF, were alarmed by a February ruling in Alabama that allowed frozen embryos to be considered people, prompting some clinics to pause treatments temporarily.

Despite the potential fallout, Trump’s most loyal supporters at the Johnstown rally remained unfazed. “It’s not enough to make me not vote for him, no way, because he is pro-life,” said Lisa Davis, a 54-year-old retired office manager. Retired nurse Rosemary Drzal, 69, added, “Why should I pay with my tax dollars for a baby getting killed?”

Trump was scheduled to head to Washington, D.C., later on Friday to address the influential conservative group Moms for Liberty.