Top U.S. pro-life group criticizes Trump's 'deeply disappointing' abortion announcement and insists there should be 'national protections' for 'unborn children and mothers'

Pro-life advocates are outraged after former President Donald Trump announced he won't support a national abortion ban, saying limits on abortion should be left to individual states. 

After the landmark decision Roe v. Wade was struck down in June 2022, states have been allowed to decide the path forward on the controversial topic. 

The 77-year-old also posted a four-and-a-half minute video Monday in which he didn't specify a time frame in which he would support or not support abortion.

He also went on to say that he believes in exceptions for a right to terminate a pregnancy in the case of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. 

His announcement is meeting an icy reception with leading pro-life advocates.  

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America (SBA), said she was 'deeply disappointed' by the announcement because it 'cedes the national debate to the Democrats.'

'We are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s position,' Dannenfelser said in a statement. 

'Unborn children and their mothers deserve national protections and national advocacy from the brutality of the abortion industry.'

'The Dobbs decision clearly allows both states and Congress to act.'

'Saying the issue is ‘back to the states’ cedes the national debate to the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. If successful, they will wipe out states’ rights.'

'With lives on the line, SBA Pro-Life America and the pro-life grassroots will work tirelessly to defeat President Biden and extreme congressional Democrats.'

Trump's populist policy position indicates how the former president has split from the more conservative ranks of his own party, which largely is receptive to sweeping abortion bans. 

Kristan Hawkins, president of pro-life group Students for Life Action, also released a statement on Trump's comments Monday, saying 'We clearly have some work to do to educate the Trump Administration' on the 'many ways that abortion has been made federal.'

'But with the mutual goals of supporting families and welcoming young children, we can work together to restore the culture of life stripped away by the national Democratic Party and their leadership.'

'Fighting against that kind of abortion extremism is a reason to vote for Donald Trump,' Hawkins' continued.

Trump has previously credited himself with being 'able to terminate Roe v. Wade after 50 years of trying' with the appointment of three Supreme Court justices.

'Donald Trump was the most pro-life president in American history, and we are grateful for all he did as president to advance a culture of life,' the Faith and Freedom Coalition, another pro-life group, said in a statement Monday.

'He kept his promise to appoint the conservative federal judges, which gave us the opportunity after a half-century of struggle to protect the unborn. We appreciate his statement reaffirming his pro-life convictions.'

'We will continue to work for the passage of legislation at the state and federal level to protect as many unborn children as we can, and 24 states have already enacted laws doing so.'

The group, notably, did not criticize Trump's Monday abortion comments, but instead highlighted the former president's past work and how the coalition will continue to advocate for anti-abortion policies.

Trump's position is sure to appeal to moderate Republicans and Democrats that see both ends of their party's as too extreme, vacillating from hardline conservatives supporting a total abortion ban to progressives that support abortion without restrictions. 

'At the end of the day, this is all about the will of the people,' Trump said in the video. 'You must follow your heart or in many cases, your religion or your faith.'

'Do what's right for your family and do what's right for yourself. Do what's right for your children, do what's right for our country and vote.'

Summarizing his position, Trump made it clear that his stance empowering states to decide is one with political implications that could very well decide the election.

'You must follow your heart on this issue but remember, you must also win elections to restore our culture,' he said. 

But winning elections at the cost of allowing abortion to continue in more liberal states is seemingly not a popular choice among Republicans. 

'President Trump’s retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020,' former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under the former president, wrote on X.

'However much our Republican nominee or other candidates seek to marginalize the cause of life, I know pro-life Americans will never relent until we see the sanctity of life restored to the center of American law in every state in this country.'

Sen. Lindsey Graham also bashed Trump's stance in a statement Monday.

'I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states’ rights issue,' he said.

'Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography.'

'The states’ rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision. The science is clear – a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain.'

'I will continue to advocate that there should be a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother,' Graham's statement said. 

Another Republican from the South Carolina delegation, however, voiced support for Trump's abortion plan. 

'The GOP cannot ignore the issue of abortion,' Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., wrote on X. 

'That's why I support President Trump on his stance of declining to endorse a federal abortion ban today, affirming that the issue should be left up to states and the power given back to the people.' 

President Biden released a statement on Trump's comments Monday.

'Donald Trump made it clear once again today that he is – more than anyone in America – the person responsible for ending Roe v. Wade,' Biden said in a statement. 

'He is – more than anyone in America – responsible for creating the cruelty and the chaos that has enveloped America since the Dobbs decision.'

'Trump once said women must be punished for seeking reproductive health care – and he's gotten his wish.'

The offices of Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not respond to a request for comment.