(RepublicanNews.org) – Following an Arizona Supreme Court ruling upholding a Civil War-era abortion law that made the practice a felony, former President Donald Trump weighed in on the development by urging state lawmakers to take action “as fast as possible”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Arizona Supreme Court decision goes “too far” by approving such an outdated law, which the former president called “inappropriate.” The law predates both Arizona’s statehood and women’s right to vote. Trump called on Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and the state’s legislature to use “heart” and “common sense” to “act immediately” and fix the situation. He also reminded his supporters of his official position on abortion, reiterating that “it is now up to the states” and the voters’ representatives to determine the appropriate level of restrictions.
On Monday, April 8th, Trump released a video message on his Truth Social page specifying his support for in vitro fertilization (IVF); reiterating that abortions should only be allowed for special exceptions involving sexual assault, incest, or risks to the mother’s life; and stopping short of supporting a national ban. Trump instead took a moderate position by supporting the current post-Roe v. Wade environment of allowing each state to decide among themselves to “do the right thing” regarding abortion.
While the moderate stance drew criticism from Democrats who still blame Trump for each strict ban on abortion for enabling the rollback of Roe v. Wade, it also drew criticism from some Republicans who feel the former president’s stance does not go far enough and that he should promise to ban abortions at the federal level.
Trump’s remarks about the strict ban in Arizona based on a law from 1864 came shortly after GOP members in the state legislature blocked attempts from their Democrat colleagues to undo the ban. State Rep. Teresa Martinez criticized the Democrats and some fellow Republicans for rushing to appeal the decision “without first having a conversation about it” and hearing “all viewpoints thoroughly.”
Although the Arizona Supreme Court determined the law should be enforced, it was also returned to a lower court where questions about the legislation’s constitutionality will be settled.
Hobbs did not respond kindly to Trump’s words of support, accusing him of making a mess that she now has to clean up in Arizona. She called Trump’s attempt to take a middle-ground on abortion “political opportunism” from the very people who she says wanted these bans in the first place by working to overturn Roe v. Wade.
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