Donald Trump alters stance on abortion with his 'reproductive rights' post

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump posted on social media on Friday, August 23, that his administration will be "great" for women's "reproductive rights."

He made the statement after recently saying he has 'no regrets' about appointing the Supreme Court supermajority that overturned the landmark Roe v Wade ruling on abortion rights. 

Donald Trump pivots on abortion with his social media post

Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday, "My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights." His use of the specific phrase "reproductive rights" appeared to be an effort by him to reposition himself as essentially supportive of abortion rights and as a political moderate on the issue.

Trump informed CBS News that he has "no regrets" about the Supreme Court justices he appointed who brought about the end of federal abortion protections.

Notably, Trump used to support abortion rights before changing his stance in 2011 when he was considering a Republican presidential campaign.

The former president seemed to be tip-toeing around the issue of abortion ever since he officially became a Republican candidate in 2015.

He struggled for months in 2024 during the Republican presidential primaries with how to discuss the issue, reportedly saying in private that he "liked" a 16-week abortion ban as he considered what ground to stake out. He publicly said he supports returning the issue to the states to decide but added he wouldn’t sign a federal abortion ban.

Times when Donald Trump changed his stand on 'reproductive rights'

Donald Trump’s stance on abortion has changed multiple times for decades. In 2015, during his run for president, he took 'five positions on abortion in three days', according to The Washington Post.

In 1999, Trump told NBC News, "I am very pro-choice. I hate the concept of abortion. ... I just believe in choice. Again, it may be a little bit of a New York background, because there is some different attitude in some different parts of the country. ... I was raised in New York and grew up and worked and everything else in New York City. But I am strongly pro-choice."

During a speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference, while he was considering a 2012 run for the White House, Trump said, "I am pro-life. Against gun control. ... I will fight to end Obamacare and replace it with something that makes sense to people in business and not bankrupt the country." 

He said during a 2016 debate that he would cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood while he offered the marquee abortion rights organization a compliment.

He said, "Millions of millions of women — cervical cancer, breast cancer — are helped by Planned Parenthood. I would defund it because I’m pro-life, but millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood." 

In April 2024, Trump said in a social media video, "My view is, now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land."

Internet grills Donald Trump as he shifts narrative on abortion

Many social media users grilled Donald Trump as he posted on Truth Social that his administration would be "great" for women's "reproductive rights."

A user wrote on X, "God-tier gaslighting right here," while one added, "America, this is how dumb Trump thinks you are."

A person also stated, "Trump very soon: My body, My choice," whereas one mentioned, "You actually believe your own lies."

A user also wrote, "Too late you sold the supreme court to the extremists. If you get another court pic it will only get worse," while one commented, "You have already caused women harm. Women and our doctors should be in control of our healthcare decisions."

A person added, "Your administration installed the Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe…"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.