Lindsey Graham Criticizes Trump’s Abortion Policy: Stalwart Ally Says There SHOULD Be A National Law And Vows To Introduce A Bill To Give Unborn Babies Anesthesia After 15 Weeks For The Procedure
Senator Lindsey Graham revealed that he disagrees with Donald Trump’s abortion position, despite being one of the former president’s closest allies in the US Senate.
After Trump announced his policy proposal on Monday that he would give states the power to enact laws around abortion, Graham posted a lengthy statement on X, formerly Twitter, expressing his opposition.
“I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states’ rights issue,” the South Carolina senator wrote.
He added: “I will continue to advocate for a national minimum standard that limits abortion after 15 weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.”
Trump posted a four-minute video to his Truth Social account on Monday with a long-awaited announcement of his proposal on how he would handle abortion if he wins a second term in 2024.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Monday he “respectfully disagrees” with Donald Trump’s proposed abortion policy
Trump released a four-minute video on Truth Social on Monday in which he asserted that he supports states’ right to pass laws regarding restrictions on abortion — and does not support a ban at the federal level
The former president said it is up to the states to set the laws and that he would not support a ban at the federal level after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, opening the door to stricter abortion laws across the country.
This disappointed the most ardent pro-life advocates who believe it doesn’t go far enough.
It also follows reports that Trump was considering supporting a ban on 15-week abortions – meaning women would not be able to legally end their pregnancies after the first trimester.
“We have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine this by vote or legislation or maybe both, and whatever they decide should be the law of the land,” Trump, 77, said in the video.
Graham announced in his X-thread on Monday that he would introduce legislation that would require abortion providers to administer anesthesia to unborn children if a mother undergoes an abortion after 15 weeks.
“It is a common medical practice to administer anesthesia to an unborn child after fifteen weeks to save its life,” he noted.
Senator Graham says geography should not determine whether an unborn child has a right to life
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said in a statement Monday that the group is “deeply disappointed” in Trump’s position and said leaving the issue to the states “leaves the national debate to Democrats.”
The group said it will still “work tirelessly to defeat President Biden” in November.
Senator Graham said: ‘Dobbs has no legal need for that conclusion and the pro-life movement has always been about the welfare of the unborn child – not about geography.’
“The current states’ rights rationale conflicts with an American consensus that would limit late-life abortions and become about the same age as the Dred Scott decision,” the South Carolina Republican added.
Graham said he will introduce a bill that would require unborn babies as young as 15 weeks to be sedated if their mothers have an abortion.
‘The science is clear: a fifteen-week-old child is well developed and can feel pain.’
The 1857 Dred Scott Supreme Court decision ruled that the U.S. Constitution did not apply to black people in America. Graham suggests that not extending constitutional rights to fetuses in the second trimester and beyond is just as bad.
Graham also said in his statement on Monday X that it is not unusual for countries to have a nationwide ban on abortion.
“Forty-seven of fifty European countries have national limits on abortion between twelve and fifteen weeks,” he wrote. “This is the position of the civilized world.”