WASHINGTON — Amid a number of states considering bills this legislative season surrounding concerns over the ongoing murder of unborn children, President Trump posted a series of tweets on Saturday evening in which he reiterated that he identifies as pro-life, but believes in the exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother.
“As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly pro-life, with the three exceptions — rape, incest and protecting the life of the mother — the same position taken by Ronald Reagan,” he tweeted.
Trump then touted his achievements in his tenure and urged Americans to stick with him for the next election.
“We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new federal judges (many more to come), two great new Supreme Court justices, the Mexico City Policy, and a whole new & positive attitude about the right to life,” he wrote. “The radical Left, with late term abortion (and worse), is imploding on this issue.”
“We must stick together and win for life in 2020. If we are foolish and do not stay united as one, all of our hard fought gains for life can, and will, rapidly disappear!”
As previously reported, in 2016, while still a presidential candidate, Trump wrote in an op-ed published by the Washington Examiner, “Let me be clear — I am pro-life. I support that position with exceptions allowed for rape, incest or the life of the mother being at risk.”
He also told NBC’s “Today” show that same year that he would like to see the exceptions in the Republican platform.
“The Republican platform, every four years, has a provision that states that the right of the unborn child shall not be infringed. And it makes no exceptions for rape, for incest, for the life of the mother. Would you want to change the Republican platform to include the exceptions that you have?” asked co-host Savannah Guthrie.
“Yes, I would,” Trump replied. “Yes, I would. Absolutely. For the three exceptions, I would.”
Trump’s statements allowing for exceptions are similar to those made by other recent Republican presidents, including George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
“My own position on abortion is well-known and remains unchanged. I oppose abortion in all cases except rape or incest, or where the life of the mother is at stake,” George H.W. Bush said in 1992.
”My position has always been three exceptions: rape, incest and the life of the mother,” George W. Bush likewise outlined in 2006.
Following the passage of a bill in Alabama last week that would ban abortion with the exception of a “serious health risk” to the mother, several prominent Republican politicians came out in opposition to the measure because it did not also include rape and incest exceptions.
“I don’t support the Alabama law,” Utah Senator and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney told CNN. “People have gone to the wings, if you will. I think something much more towards the center makes a lot more sense.”
A spokesman Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also stated, “He opposes abortion except in the instance of rape, incest, or the life of the mother is in danger.”
“[The Alabama bill] goes further than I believe,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy likewise told reporters. “First of all, I believe the most precious gift God gives us is life. And I’ve defended my pro-life position for my whole political career. But in my whole political career, I’ve also believed in rape, incest, and the life of the mother as exceptions.”
However, Rebecca Kiessling of Save the 1, who was conceived in rape and now is a voice against killing children for the crimes of their fathers, lamented the president’s post, writing on social media, “There’s nothing quite like getting singled out for death by your president.”
“[R]egardless of how the child came into existence, … the child conceived is still a child,” also wrote the World Life Organization. “As a society we must not tolerate or condone in any way murdering the child as an option. And until we make this strong stand, without exceptions, I believe nothing will significantly change and our nation will continue to have presidents who make ludicrous and immoral statements such as this.”
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