Former Republican President Donald Trump announced his stance Monday on abortion and fertility treatments in advance of the 2024 presidential election, prompting his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden, to release a statement in response criticizing his remarks.
The back-and-forth comes amidst an ongoing discussion nationwide over abortion and fertility treatments, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, wherein Roe v. Wade was overturned, sending the issue of abortion back to the states.
In a five-minute video posted to the social media platform Truth Social Monday morning, former President Trump expressed support for access to fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Following an Alabama Court’s ruling that frozen embryos are considered children under state law, discussions about the future of IVF accessibility began taking place nationwide. Shortly thereafter, elected officials in the state took action to ensure the continued availability of IVF in light of the court’s determination.
With respect to abortion, the former president thanked the Supreme Court Justices who voted in support of overturning Roe v. Wade and, consequently, for empowering the states to make abortion-related decisions for themselves.
Rather than advocating for the federal government to take a particular stance on abortion, Trump underscored how the Dobbs decision has allowed each state to adopt their own unique standards and parameters according to the “will of the people.”
Trump did, however, clearly state his support for including legal exceptions in the case of rape and incest, or if there is a threat to the life of the mother.
Click Here to Watch President Trump’s Full Video
In response to this video, President Biden released a statement Monday expressing staunch support for a federal law guaranteeing abortion access nationwide and criticizing Trump for his position, suggesting that the former president has “ripped away a fundamental right for the women of America.”
Click Here to Read President Biden’s Statement on Abortion
Biden also referred to Trump’s statements concerning IVF and fertility treatments as “empty words,” accusing the “MAGA Republicans he controls in Congress” of introducing bills that could result in bans on such procedures.
Click Here to Read President Biden’s Statement on IVF
These remarks from the two leading presidential candidates for 2024 come amidst nationwide discussion and lawmaking concerning abortion.
The United States Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the first abortion-related case since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
This case centered around the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recently-loosened restriction on the usage and dispersal of mifepristone, a drug used in medication abortions.
[RELATED: SCOTUS Hears Oral Arguments in First Abortion-Related Case Since Overturning Roe v. Wade]
In Maine, lawmakers are currently considering a bill that would enshrine a right to abortion in the state’s constitution.
Earlier this month, the bill failed to gain support from the requisite super-majority of lawmakers in the Senate — a requirement for the amendment to be put before voters for final approval at the ballot box.
Although a majority of state senators recently voted to advance this measure, the chamber came up short of the two-thirds support that it will ultimately need.
This bill has currently been tabled in the House, so it is not clear at this time when state lawmakers will again vote on this legislation.
Discussion of this proposed amendment comes shortly after Gov. Janet Mills (D) signed into law a bill establishing one of the nation’s least restrictive abortion policies, allowing for a baby to be aborted at any point during pregnancy.
Under this law, access to late-term abortion in Maine was dramatically expanded, allowing women to abort their baby “after viability” if it is deemed “necessary in the professional judgment of a physician.”
This language replaced a provision prohibiting abortion after the point of viability except in cases where the life or health of the mother was in jeopardy.
Currently, only six other states – including Alaska, Colorado, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Vermont – and Washington, D.C. have similar laws on books allowing doctors, without restriction, to authorize abortions at any point during pregnancy.
Thank you for presenting both sides in a non-partisan way
Ok Biden, you are so afraid of someone taking away IVF, but you are for abortion. How about the people that want the abortions, help out the woman that need the IVF and let them adopt your child? Biden just wants to behave in a manner that claims he is all for womans rights, but again supports transgender maiming of womans bodies. WTH?