The Arizona Supreme Court Upholds near-total Abortion Ban
By Best Newspaper Editor
Published on May 1, 2024
Days after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that a near-total ban on abortion could be enforced in the state, Kamala Harris, the Biden administration’s most vocal official on abortion, criticized former President Donald Trump’s position on the issue in a campaign speech in Tucson.
Harris highlighted that the recent ruling, which only allows abortion exceptions when the mother’s life is at risk, is indicative of a larger strategy to undermine the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
During the speech, Harris emphasized that the blame for the strict abortion ban lies with Trump. She warned that a potential second Trump term would lead to even more abortion bans and negatively impact reproductive care for women.
Interestingly, Trump has expressed a changed stance on abortion policies in recent statements. He now states that a federal abortion ban is unnecessary, claiming that “we broke Roe v. Wade.” Trump also declared that he would not sign such a ban and advocated for each state to make its own decisions regarding abortion.
Democrats, including President Biden, have accused Trump of lying as he tries to distance himself from highly controversial anti-abortion policies. These policies consistently poll as extremely unpopular among voters.
Trump’s position on abortion has been characterized by shifts, often aligning with political expediency. Prior to running for office, he identified as “very pro-choice” before adopting “pro-life” views. Throughout his presidency, Trump’s stance has evolved, ranging from attempting to defund Planned Parenthood, to advocating for punishment for women seeking abortions, to supporting the 20-week abortion ban, and later considering a 15- or 16-week abortion ban.
It is widely believed that the Supreme Court’s decision to dismantle Roe v. Wade, enabled by Trump’s judicial nominations, was a significant factor that impacted Republicans’ performance in the 2023 midterm elections.
