Former President Donald Trump’s most significant conservative achievement may also pose a major challenge for his 2024 campaign: the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that safeguarded abortion rights for 50 years. This ruling has opened the door for stringent state and federal abortion restrictions, putting Trump in a difficult position.
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has sought to distance himself from his party’s more contentious policies while still addressing the concerns of anti-abortion advocates. Although he does not support a national abortion ban—a stance that his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, has previously endorsed—Trump takes credit for appointing the Supreme Court justices whose decisions led to new, restrictive abortion laws in numerous states following Roe’s overturn.
This balancing act has become increasingly problematic for Trump. After initially indicating a more lenient stance, Trump publicly opposed a Florida ballot measure that would legalize abortion up to the point of fetal viability (approximately 24 weeks of pregnancy), which was the standard under Roe before it was overturned.
The situation escalated when Trump criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban, suggesting there should be a longer timeframe. When asked about his stance on the Florida ballot measure, Trump indicated support for more than six weeks, implying he might back the measure that overturns the restrictive ban.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America’s President Marjorie Dannenfelser quickly responded, stating that Trump’s support for Amendment 4 would undermine his previous anti-abortion positions. Conservatives were already uneasy with Trump’s attempts to soften his image on abortion, including his recent claim that his administration would be beneficial for women and their reproductive rights.
To manage the backlash from his Thursday comments, Trump’s campaign released a statement claiming he had not yet decided how he would vote on Amendment 4. Dannenfelser later clarified that she had spoken with Trump and he remained undecided. However, by Friday, Trump had made a decision, telling FOX News he would vote against Amendment 4, thereby supporting the state’s six-week abortion ban.
This shift drew criticism from the left. Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent, condemned him for supporting an extreme abortion ban that could affect women even before they are aware of their pregnancy.
Republican consultant Alex Conant noted that Trump’s struggle to maintain a consistent message on abortion undermines one of his core strengths—his perceived authenticity. Conant remarked that Trump’s inconsistency on abortion is particularly surprising given his usual straightforwardness.
The abortion issue has placed Republicans on the defensive, not just Trump. A Pew Research Center survey from April found that 63% of U.S. adults believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases. Despite this, Republicans have moved quickly to impose abortion restrictions at both the state and national levels. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has proposed federal legislation to ban abortion after 15 weeks, and many conservative states have enacted even stricter laws.
According to the Guttmacher Institute, which advocates for abortion rights, 14 states have implemented total abortion bans, four states have restricted it after six weeks, and two after 12 weeks. Voters have responded by supporting ballot measures that protect abortion rights, as seen in recent successes in states like Kansas and Michigan, adding to the pressure on Republicans.
Jamie Miller, a GOP consultant and former executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, commented on the Florida measure, noting that many are struggling with the implications of such initiatives.
