Trump and Harris' Positions Regarding Abortion

Abortion remains a crucial issue for voters in the 2024 election, with three-quarters of them considering it important or very important, according to an August 13 poll by The Economist/YouGov.

As the September 10 debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris approaches, The Epoch Times has examined the candidates' positions on abortion.

The analysis reveals areas of agreement, significant disagreements, and some unclear stances from both sides.

Trump’s Position

Donald Trump's stance on abortion has evolved over the years. In the 1990s, he identified as pro-choice but shifted to a pro-life position by 2011.

He often claims to be the most pro-life president, highlighting his role in nominating three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.

This landmark 1973 decision had largely legalized abortion in the U.S.

In the post-Roe era, Trump’s position has faced criticism from some supporters and created confusion about his exact stance.

The Republican Party has historically opposed abortion, focusing on issues like eliminating taxpayer funding and banning the procedure for gender selection, disabilities, or in late stages of pregnancy.

Following the Roe reversal, debates have intensified about national bans and state-level regulations.

Trump advocates for leaving abortion policy to the states and the 2024 GOP platform does not support a national abortion ban.

He has criticized some state laws, such as Florida’s six-week ban, which he deems too restrictive. Trump has called for more time for abortion but did not specify a preferred limit.

He also indicated opposition to a proposed Florida constitutional amendment that would protect abortion rights up to fetal viability and later if deemed necessary by a healthcare provider. Trump described the amendment as "radical."

Trump has expressed uncertainty about vetoing a federal abortion ban, though his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, has stated that Trump would veto such legislation.

On August 30, Trump announced support for legislation that would fund all costs associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) or require private insurers to cover it, despite some controversy over the destruction of embryos involved in IVF.

Trump’s approach has drawn criticism from some pro-life Republicans who argue for more decisive federal action. Lila Rose, founder and President of Live Action, accused Trump of betraying pro-life principles and warned that a Trump victory might not be a win for the pro-life movement.

Pro-life leaders adjusted their criticism after Trump clarified his position on the Florida amendment, with some hoping for a change in his stance either before or after the election.

Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life of America, mentioned that her organization is seeking a “new deal” with Trump, advocating for actions like defunding Planned Parenthood, which receives nearly $700 million in taxpayer funds annually.

Overall, Trump’s stance on abortion has generated a mix of support and confusion among pro-life voters.

Alta Charo, a law and bioethics professor at the University of Wisconsin, criticized Donald Trump’s abortion stance as lacking genuine principles and appearing designed merely to placate his supporters. “I think the only way to summarize Trump’s position is ‘incoherent,’” she told The Epoch Times.

Jesse Charles, a voter from Romulus, Michigan, expressed confusion about Trump’s position as well. “He’s got me a little confused,” Charles remarked. “He said that he was supporting [abortion access], and now he says he’s not supporting it, and now he’s saying that abortion should go a little longer instead of six weeks. He’s not stable on it.”

Harris’s Position

Vice President Kamala Harris has consistently championed abortion as a fundamental right for women and supports legislation to reinstate a federal right to abortion similar to Roe v. Wade, which recognized the right through fetal viability—usually between 22 and 24 weeks—and later when necessary for the mother's health.

Harris supports IVF and the use of abortion-inducing medication by mail. However, she has not specified her stance on late-term abortion. Her campaign website highlights her efforts to defend reproductive freedom and protect patient and provider privacy, and mentions her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, who led Minnesota in enacting legislation guaranteeing abortion rights following Roe’s overturn.

Harris has received endorsements from Planned Parenthood Action and Reproductive Freedom for All, formerly NARAL. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, praised Harris as the only presidential candidate trusted to safeguard abortion access.

Nonetheless, Harris faces criticism from some within her own party. Merle Hoffman, co-founder of the National Abortion Federation, expressed concerns over Harris's unclear stance on reproductive choice and questioned the feasibility of restoring Roe’s protections, noting the legislative hurdles.

Charo added that passing such legislation through the Senate seems unlikely without changes to filibuster rules. She suggested Harris could use executive powers to expand funding for reproductive issues and ensure federal access to abortion services.

The Future

Trump’s federalist approach allows states to shape their own abortion policies, yet advocates on both sides are calling for a national solution. Audrey Blondin, a public health policy attorney at the University of New Haven, argues that women’s healthcare rights should not depend on their state of residence.

“We are not living in the United States of America. We are living in a red state or a blue state,” she said, emphasizing the need for a nationwide approach.

The Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, interprets the 14th Amendment as protecting the life of the unborn child and believes cultural change is necessary. “It points us in the direction of where we need to end up,” Pavone stated.

Some leaders worry that the political debate is overshadowing the needs of women. “Millions of women are going to die and have their health care compromised by the current status quo,” Blondin warned. Jeff Bradford, president of Human Coalition, advocates for shifting the focus from the procedure to supporting mothers.

He noted that 76 percent of women his organization helps wish to keep their babies if not for challenging circumstances and called for more attention to issues like housing, education, employment, and child care. “I think that’s what our politicians should be talking about on either side—that these moms want help,” Bradford said.