Trump And Lindsey Graham Argue On Abortion
Former President Donald Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) got into a war of words on Monday over Trump’s belief that states should be the ultimate deciders on abortion policy.
It all began with a video Trump posted to Truth Social https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-releases-long-awaited-abortion-position-says-policies-should-be-left-to-states
that states should be able to decide on abortion through vote or legislation.
However, Graham, a close ally of Trump did not side with him on this one, as he said that he still wants a national abortion limit after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Graham made his views clear in a post to X, in which he wrote “I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states’ rights issue. Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography.”
I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states’ rights issue.
Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography. https://t.co/WloOJ0ImaW
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024
Comparing the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 to the 1857 Dred Scott v. Stanford ruling that barred citizenship to black slaves prior to the Civil War, Graham wrote, “The states’ rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision. The science is clear – a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain.”
The states’ rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision.
The science is clear – a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024
The lawmaker went on to say that he “will continue to advocate that there should be a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain.”
He, however, gave an exception to forced intercourse, incest and health safety reasons.
https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1777340622661095750
“However, until we achieve this goal, the least we can do is to provide anesthesia to an unborn child facing an abortion at fifteen weeks because they can feel pain,” he wrote in another tweet before announcing his intentions to present a piece of legislation that would solve that problem.
“Therefore, I will be introducing new legislation requiring abortion providers to administer anesthesia to an unborn child at fifteen weeks because they are capable of feeling pain. It is common medical practice to administer anesthesia to operate on an unborn child at fifteen weeks to save their life,” he added.
However, until we achieve this goal, the least we can do is to provide anesthesia to an unborn child facing an abortion at fifteen weeks because they can feel pain. Therefore, I will be introducing new legislation requiring abortion providers to administer anesthesia to an unborn…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2024
After Graham’s series of tweets, Trump gave a rebuttal on Truth Social, shutting him up and accusing him of “doing a great disservice to the Republican Party” with his views on abortion.
“The Democrats are thrilled with Lindsey, because they want this Issue to simmer for as long a period of time as possible. They are destroying our Country, and they don’t want to talk about Inflation, a Bad Economy, the Horrible Open Border, Rigged Elections, Afghanistan, Ukraine/Russia, or the Attack on Israel, all of which would never have happened if I were President. Great job Lindsey!” he said in a post, telling the senator to focus on Biden’s border crisis and the millions of people dying in senseless, never-ending Wars that he constantly favors and promotes.”
Trump also tackled Graham for what he claimed is a shifting stance on the issue and pointed out how that position is damaging for the Republican Party.
“At first he wanted no Abortions under any circumstances, then he was up to 6 weeks, where you’re allowed Abortion, now he’s up to 15 weeks, where you’re allowed Abortion, but what he doesn’t understand, or perhaps he does, is the Radical Left Democrats, who are destroying our Country, will never approve anything that he or the Republicans want. They love this Issue, and they want to keep it going for as long as Republicans will allow them to do so,” he wrote.
“Terminating Roe v. Wade was, according to all Legal Scholars, a Great Event, but sometimes with Great Events come difficulties. Many Good Republicans lost Elections because of this Issue, and people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency…” the GOP presumptive nominee added.
Graham reportedly responded to Trump’s criticism in a statement to reporters, per Punchbowl News reporter Andrew Desiderio.
“The idea of the Republican Party abandoning the opposition to late-term abortion, I think would be a mistake… If you’re turning the pro-life movement into a geographical movement, I think you’re making a mistake,” he stated.
