Donald Trump said Wednesday that Arizona’s abortion ban, which was upheld by the state Supreme Court this week, “goes too far.”
He reiterated that his position on giving states the right to create their own laws around termination of pregnancy is the best policy and asserted that Arizona will “rectify” the 1864 law banning all abortions except when the mother’s life is at risk is.
Speaking on the tarmac in Atlanta, Georgia, as he arrived for a fundraiser, the former president answered a wide range of questions from reporters — including about Israel’s war with Hamas.
Trump, 77, then went to a Chick-fil-a where he spoke to workers and ordered 30 milkshakes and chicken, paying for everyone in the restaurant.
After leaving office, Trump said President Joe Biden has “completely lost control of the situation in Israel” and abandoned the US ally in its conflict with terrorists operating from Gaza.
Despite repeatedly touting his nomination as a Supreme Court justice, which led to the overturning of the landmark abortion decision Roe v. Wade, Trump appears to be backtracking on some of his most pro-life positions.
Former President Donald Trump steps off his plane in Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday for a fundraiser in the critical swing state, where he faces a 2020 election subversion lawsuit
Stopping to talk to reporters on the tarmac in Georgia, Trump said Arizona has gone “too far” in ruling to enforce a 160-year-old law that bans almost all abortions except in cases where the life of the mother is in danger
On Monday, he said abortion laws should be left to the states, which was criticized by some hardline pro-lifers like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). And now he says Arizona and Florida will likely have to change their laws to be more in line with what people want.
After leaving Georgia on Wednesday, Trump said President Joe Biden has “completely lost control of the situation in Israel” and has abandoned the US ally in its conflict with terrorists operating from Gaza.
Meanwhile, he also discussed the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling, which is shaking abortion activists and even pro-life Republicans.
The ruling overturned a new law that imposed a 15-week ban on abortion. This law was enacted after the Dobbs Supreme Court ruling in June 2022 overturned long-standing landmark Roe v. Wade, which provided federal protections for abortion.
Now Arizona has 14 days before it returns to a 160-year-old law that bans all abortions, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
“Did Arizona go too far?” a reporter asked the former president, to which he replied, “Yes, they did and it will be corrected.”
“And as you know, it’s all about states’ rights – which will be corrected,” he promised.
Trump added, “And I’m sure the governor and everyone else will put it back into perspective and that will be taken care of pretty quickly.”
But he also said that Florida, where the former president now lives with his wife Melania and their son Barron, will have to take another look at their abortion laws.
“Maybe Florida is probably going to change too,” Trump said. ‘It’s all about the will of the people. This is what I said: it is a perfect system.’
Trump stopped at a Chick-fil-a in Gerogia, where he joked with young employees: “Is business good?” To earn a lot of money? Everyone’s getting rich, right?’
Trump also addressed the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza, saying: ‘Every Jewish person who votes for a Democrat or votes for Biden should have their head examined’
Pro-abortion activists are rallying in Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday to protest the state Supreme Court, which is upholding an 1864 law that established some of the nation’s strictest abortion laws.
“So for 52 years, people have wanted to overturn Roe v. Wade to get it back to the United States. We did that. It was an incredible thing, an incredible achievement,” he said. “And now the states have it. And the states put out what they want. It is the will of the people.’
“So Florida is probably going to change, Arizona is definitely going to change – everyone wants that to happen. And you get the will of the people, which is pretty amazing,” he concluded.
Trump’s long-awaited abortion policy platform announcement on Monday was largely a sidestep on the controversial issue.
The former president said he believes the issue should be decided by the states, which is exactly what the overturning of Roe v. Wade paved the way for two years leading up to the Arizona ruling.
Trump is in Georgia for a fundraiser on Wednesday, but stopped beforehand at Chick-fil-a in the Atlanta area.
Trump stopped by a Georgia Chick-fil-a on Wednesday where he ordered 30 milkshakes and paid for everyone’s chicken in the restaurant, praising the franchise owner who is “a member of one of my clubs.”
Trump is in the swing state of Georgia for a fundraiser as he also faces criminal charges in the state over a 2020 election subversion case in Fulton County, which includes Atlanta
“It’s a great franchise,” Trump told reporters after ordering several dozen milkshakes. ‘The owner is a great man who is a member of one of my clubs and he is fantastic. And they are doing very well and yes, they are closed on Sundays.’
“It’s the Lord’s chicken,” he joked.
Speaking to young employees behind the counter, Trump said: ‘Can I have thirty milkshakes? And some chicken too – and we’re going to take care of the customers.’
‘Is business going well?’ To earn a lot of money?’ he asked as he nodded and then joked, “Everyone gets rich, right?”