Arizona — On Friday, former President Donald Trump encouraged Arizona lawmakers to quickly “remedy” the state Supreme Court verdict empowering prosecutors to enforce a near-total abortion ban that he said “went too far.”
Trump has boasted of choosing three conservative Supreme Court judges within his one time as president to abolish the national constitutional right to abortion. However, his messaging after the Arizona verdict that a ban on the books since 1864 is lawful shows his struggle to neutralize a powerful Democratic political tool.
He said Friday hours before Vice President Kamala Harris called state-level laws “Trump abortion bans” in Tucson. She and President Joe Biden blame Trump for drastically reducing abortion access, which has made him a liability in one of the few swing states that could decide November.
Trump demanded the state modify its abortion law days after saying abortion rights should be left to the states. He said, “and whatever they decide must be the law of the land — in this case, the law of the state.” He stipulated what the state must determine on Friday.
The Governor and the Arizona Legislature must use HEART, COMMON SENSE, and ACT IMMEDIATELY, to remedy what has happened,” Trump tweeted on Truth Social. “Remember, it is now up to the States and the Good Will of those representing THE PEOPLE.”
He did not advocate repealing or watering down the statute. He said abortion limitations should “ideally” include rape, incest, and motherhood exclusions. “Arizona Legislature, act quickly!” Mr. Trump wrote.
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and a few crucial Republican legislators want the abortion restriction repealed. On Monday, the Republican majority in the Texas House blocked a repeal despite Democratic chants of “Shame! Shame!” Many of the Legislature's most vociferous repeal opponents are Trump backers. On Monday, Trump released a video saying he proudly prepared the way for the court's decision and that states should decide the issue. He opposed a nationwide prohibition.
However, the Arizona Supreme Court verdict the next day highlighted what may happen when states decide. The Arizona verdict permits implementation of an 1864 statute that allows abortion doctors to be imprisoned at any stage of pregnancy unless the mother's life is in danger. Rape and incest pregnancies are not exempt.
“Nothing he says can undo the chaos and cruelty his actions have inflicted on women across America,” Biden campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said Friday. In 2020, Arizona voters chose Biden by fewer than 11,000 votes, the second time in 70 years. Trump and Biden regard the state as a key battleground again this year.
In the 2022 midterm elections, 61% of Arizona voters felt abortion should be permitted in most or all situations, according to AP VoteCast. Only 6% felt it should always be illegal. Two-thirds of Arizona midterm voters indicated the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade reversal influenced their vote. About 6 in 10 Arizona voters supported a nationwide legal abortion bill in that election.
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