In a recent statement, former President Donald Trump expressed his stance on abortion, advocating for the issue to be determined by individual states rather than implementing a nationwide ban. Trump’s remarks, shared on his Truth Social platform, come amidst escalating debates over reproductive rights in the lead-up to the November presidential election.

Trump proudly asserted his role in overturning the landmark Roe v Wade decision, which had guaranteed abortion rights nationally for decades. Following the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority decision in June 2022, the authority to regulate abortion access largely shifted to individual states. Trump emphasized the importance of states deciding through either votes or legislation, reflecting the diverse perspectives across the nation.

The upcoming election is expected to spotlight reproductive rights as a pivotal issue. President Joe Biden, Trump’s Democratic opponent, has positioned himself as a staunch defender of access to reproductive healthcare. Biden has criticized Trump and Republican lawmakers for their support of overturning Roe v Wade, portraying Trump’s recent comments as a sign of concern over potential voter backlash.

Conservative efforts to overturn Roe v Wade have been decades in the making, resulting in various states enacting stringent abortion restrictions. However, such measures have faced public opposition, with a Pew Research Center report indicating that a majority of Americans support legal access to abortion in most cases.

Trump’s stance on leaving abortion decisions to the states has drawn criticism from anti-abortion groups, who argue that it relinquishes the national debate to Democrats. Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican, has voiced disagreement, advocating for a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks.

In response to Trump’s position, Biden accused him of attempting to evade accountability for the overturning of Roe v Wade, suggesting that voters will hold him responsible in the upcoming election. With both candidates gearing up for a hard-fought battle, reproductive rights are poised to remain a central issue, potentially influencing voter sentiments in key swing states.