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A number of pro-life Republicans have issued scathing responses to President Donald J. Trump’s comments regarding abortion on “Meet the Press.” Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, highlighted some of the reaction:
- Lila Rose, President of Live Action: “Pathetic and unacceptable. Trump is actively attacking the very pro-life laws made possible by Roe’s overturning. Heartbeat Laws have saved thousands of babies. But Trump wants to compromise on babies’ lives so pro-abort Dems ‘like him.’ Trump should not be the GOP nominee.”
- Kristen Waggoner, President of Alliance Defending Freedom: “Laws protecting the unborn are not a ‘terrible mistake.’ They are the hallmark of a just and moral society. Governors who protect life should be applauded, not attacked.”
- Bob Vander Plaats, President of the Iowa Family Leader: “When a leader doesn’t have convictions on the most basic right of all, the right to #Life, this is what you get. Ugh. The ‘let’s make a deal’ message isn’t a win for babies and it won’t win the [presidency].”
- Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life Action: “Hey @realDonaldTrump, protecting human life at 5 or 6 weeks isn’t a ‘terrible thing’… it’s the right thing.”
- Jon Schweppe, Policy Director for the American Principles Project: “Trump isn’t playing 4D chess. He’s just demoralizing should-be Republican voters.”
- National Review editors: “Florida, Ohio, Georgia, and Iowa all have the sort of pro-life laws that Trump is now condemning. How would he have those states please everyone in the debate? Would he sign a law forcing them to allow abortions after six weeks? Side with the legal activists trying to wipe out these laws? Convince pro-lifers in those states that they should retreat from legal protections they have already won? The correct answer is that he hasn’t given the matter a moment’s thought. What he has doubtless thought about is the short-term politics of his new position. He is banking that he has enough goodwill from pro-lifers for his admittedly substantial past services that we will gladly acquiesce in our own marginalization. Whether he is right in making that bet is something pro-lifers will have to decide.”
- Ed Whelan: “It’s one thing for pro-lifers to be grateful to Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices who were critical in overturning Roe. It’s quite another to think we should view him as an ally going forward.”
- Lizzie Marbach, former Trump 2020 campaign staffer: “This is unacceptable and frankly—evil. ‘Compromise’ on the issue of abortion simply means that child sacrifice will continue.”
- Jon Dunwell, Iowa State Representative: “I am shocked by his words. I continue to be disappointed by President Trump.”
- Jenna Ellis, former Trump 2020 campaign staffer: “If you champion pro-life and vote your values, you vote for the MOST pro-life candidate. Between Trump and Biden? Of course that’s Trump. But between Trump and DeSantis? DeSantis is the clear choice in the primary.”
- Marc Thiessen: “Wow. No wonder he doesn’t want to debate.”
- Ben Domenech: “Trump is a pro abortion candidate. Fact.”
- Allie Beth Stuckey: “Trump, after everything the left has done to him, still thinks that if he gives them a little baby murder they’ll like him. This isn’t just evil, it is absolutely delusional. He fundamentally doesn’t get it”
- Seth Dillon: “This isn’t pro-life; it’s pro-compromise. And when you compromise between right and wrong, wrong always wins.”
- Matt Walsh: “An awful answer from a moral perspective. There is nothing terrible about stopping the satanic abortion industry from mass murdering human children. Also stupid politically. There is no compromise on abortion that everyone will like. It’s delusional to think otherwise. And contrary to Trump’s claims, almost all Democrats are indeed extreme on this issue. You will be hard pressed to find more than maybe two or three on the national stage who don’t want abortion until birth or beyond. You can’t win over Democrats by going squishy on this issue. Republicans have tried that brilliant strategy for decades and accomplished exactly nothing by it. Defend life clearly and powerfully and unequivocally. That’s the only way.”
- LifeSiteNews: “The popular six-week bills that have been passed in some Republican states post-Dobbs are off the table for Trump, who criticized Governor Ron DeSantis again in the ‘Meet the Press’ interview for signing the law. It is not a good sign for Trump’s plans for a compromise that he already disdains even the moderate approach to abortion some Republican states have taken. … Trump the dealmaker should know better. Some of his initiatives on less contentious issues, such as taxes, failed to garner bipartisan support. For example, Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act failed to win a single Democratic vote in the House and Senate. Republicans and Trump could not convince Democrats to join in giving money back to people – how will he rally enough votes to limit abortion, a central part of the Democratic Party platform?”
