MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican National Committee made a significant change on Monday by adopting a party platform that aligns with former President Donald Trump’s stance on abortion, which opposes a federal ban and leaves decisions to the states. This marks the first time in 40 years that the explicit basis for a national ban has been omitted.
Trump played a key role in shaping the RNC’s platform committee to avoid strict abortion language, while still taking credit for the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court. Trump appointed three of the six justices who voted in favor of overturning the 1973 precedent that established the national right to abortion.
The new platform, which is only 16 pages long and lacks specific details on key Republican issues, reflects the Trump campaign’s strategy to avoid providing ammunition to Democrats about the former president’s intentions if he returns to the White House. President Joe Biden’s campaign has highlighted concerns over Trump’s policies and promises related to trade, government workforce, and deportations.
The platform maintains the party’s belief that the Constitution grants rights to fetuses, but no longer supports an “amendment to the Constitution and legislation to clarify that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to children before birth,” a provision included in the platform since 1984.
The platform asserts that the 14th Amendment ensures no person is denied life or liberty without due process and that states are free to pass laws protecting these rights.
However, the document no longer explicitly supports a national ban on abortion after a certain stage of pregnancy, aligning more closely with Trump’s view that the issue should be left to the states.
Anti-abortion advocates have largely accepted the revised platform, with some praising the committee for reaffirming its commitment to protect unborn life through the 14th Amendment.
While there are differing opinions on the approach to a federal ban, some believe it is essential to maintain this principle as part of the party’s platform.
The platform committee met a week before the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, where Trump is set to accept his third consecutive presidential nomination.
This platform was developed through a process led by Trump allies and reflects the president’s vision for the party. Despite some internal dissent and criticism over the lack of transparency in the selection process, the new platform is aimed at supporting Trump’s campaign goals.
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