Report: Donald Trump supports 16-week federal abortion ban
Republican candidate's position a topic of discussion on this week's Meet the Press
A New York Times report that Donald Trump would support a 16-week federal ban on abortion was the subject of discussion on Sunday’s Meet the Press.
Host Kristen Welker had NPR’s Mara Liasson speak first on the topic.
“Democrats are gonna say he's for a national ban,” Liasson said. “He doesn't want states to decide. Every blue state that's codified Roe…that's going to go in the garbage can. So that's one impact of it.”
“But the second thing that I think is incredibly interesting is that Donald Trump is acting like a normal politician,” Liasson continued. “He usually doesn't do that. But he's moving, trying, if the story is true, to move to the center on abortion for the general election to get to more where the majority of voters are. And you know what? There is a consensus on abortion in this country. It used to be called Roe. Sixteen weeks is a little earlier than Roe, but people want abortion to either be mostly legal with some exceptions or mostly illegal with some exemptions.”
Republican strategist Sara Fagen also spoke about the report.
“I think it's very politically smart for Trump because Republicans have been on their heels since the Supreme Court overturned Roe. And it's been a debate about Republicans banning abortion. This is going to move the debate to Democrats being for abortion up to nine months, and so in that respect, it's prudent politically. He should be for 15 weeks, not 16 weeks.”
Cornell Belcher, the other guest, pointed out the political ramifications.
“It just brings abortions front and center,” Belcher said. “So 15-point gender gap in 2020. It's going to be a 15-point gender gap right now with them pushing this abortion (ban). This abortion issue is a losing issue for them. I'm glad they're pushing it forefront.”