Trump is planning to make pro-lifers scapegoat if he loses in 2024: National Review

In the wake of Donald Trump's announcement that he thinks abortion restrictions should be decided by individual states, the editorial board of the conservative-leaning National Review published an op-ed accusing the presumptive GOP nominee of purposely avoiding staking out a solid position on the subject.

“The Democrats’ position, however appalling and deceptive, is at least a position. Trump is transparently trying to avoid taking one,” the site's editors wrote.

"Trump wants to leave abortion to state electorates while declining even to advocate that they protect life. Trump was specific about which abortions he would permit — those for rape, for incest, and to save a mother’s life — but declined to endorse or even mention any proposal to protect unborn children, even one as limited as a ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy," the op-ed stated.

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The writers pointed to Trump's words, where he said when it comes to abortion, "You must follow your heart on this issue."

"And in saying so, he is partly aligning himself with America’s median opinion on abortion, which places sentiment above philosophical consistency,” the op-ed stated.

“But he is also reflecting his party’s overwrought fear of pro-choice voters. The fact remains that during the vaunted pro-choice backlash of the past two years, not one pro-life senator or governor has lost his office in an election. Republicans retook the House mere months after Dobbs.”

The site's editors acknowledge that purist positions when it comes to abortion has cost the GOP voters, but "of course it is also true that Trump himself and his various manias have cost Republicans elections."

“If it happens again, we can be sure he will blame it on pro-lifers," they added.