CV NEWS FEED // In a new interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, former President Donald Trump denounced Florida’s “heartbeat” law protecting unborn children from abortion after six weeks of gestation, calling it “a terrible thing” and “a terrible mistake.”
A number of pro-life leaders condemned Trump’s comment, including some who have praised him in the past for his pro-life achievements.
“Laws protecting the unborn are not a ‘terrible mistake,’” wrote Alliance Defending Freedom President Kristen Waggoner in response to Trump’s remark. “They are the hallmark of a just and moral society. Governors who protect life should be applauded, not attacked.”
Lila Rose, president of LiveAction, called Trump’s comment “Pathetic and unacceptable.”
Terry Schilling of the American Principles Project, however, suggested pro-life Americans should not be too alarmed by Trump’s interview.
When a blogger wrote that Trump “mostly agrees with Democrats” on both abortion and gender ideology, Schilling replied: “This is just factually incorrect. Trump is great on trans and is the president that got Roe overturned.”
“Let’s at least see what national limit he backs before the hysterical takes,” Schilling concluded.
In the interview, Trump began to address the issue by arguing that most Americans, including Democrats, agree abortions should be restricted to some degree. When pressed on whether he would sign a federal law protecting unborn children after 15 weeks of gestation, Trump would not commit.
NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump: “If a federal ban landed on your desk, if you were reelected, would you sign it – at 15 weeks?”
“Are you talking about a complete ban?” Trump asked.
“A ban at 15 weeks,” Welker said.
“Well, people are starting to think of 15 weeks, it seems to be a number that people are talking about right now,” Trump said.
“Would you sign that?” Welker pressed.
“I would sit down with both sides and I’d negotiate something, and we’ll end up with peace on that issue for the first time in 52 years,” Trump said, but declined to commit to a direct answer: “I’m not gonna say if I would or I wouldn’t.”
Trump then added: “I mean DeSantis would sign a five-week and six-week ban.”
“Would you support that?” Welker asked.
“I think what he did is a terrible thing and a terrible mistake,” Trump said.
