Posted on 08/30/2024 12:09:19 AM PDT by Morgana
Amid recent fissures in Donald Trump’s evangelical support base over the issue of abortion, the former president took to Truth Social this week with a post that could be seen as an olive branch.
Trump raised the ire of pro-life advocates last week when he declared that if elected in November, his “administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.”
The post came a little more than a month after a significant revision of the Republican Party Platform. While Republicans in 2016 called for a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks, the platform adopted in July stated that in light of the overturn of Roe v. Wade, the power of abortion legislation “has been given to the States and to a vote of the People.”
This revision was sharply criticized by pro-life Republicans and evangelical leaders, who expressed frustration that what had been a deeply held principle of the party was now being discarded for the pragmatic purpose of increased electability.
While Trump was once hailed as “the most pro-life president” in American history for appointing justices to a Supreme Court that went on to overturn Roe in June 2022, he has become increasingly more sympathetic to the pro-choice cause since that landmark decision.
For instance, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Heartbeat Protection Act, which banned all abortions in Florida where an unborn child’s heartbeat is detectable, Trump criticized the legislation, calling it “harsh.”
“I think what he did is a terrible thing and a terrible mistake,” Trump said of DeSants’ decision to sign the bill into law in April 2023.
At the time, Trump declined to specify whether he would support restrictions or an outright ban on abortions at the federal level. But he has now made his stance clear via his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.
In an appearance on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Vance indicated that Trump wants to “end this culture war over this particular topic.”
“Donald Trump’s view is that we want the individual states and their individual cultures and their unique political sensibilities to make these decisions, because we don’t want to have a nonstop federal conflict over this issue,” Vance said. “Let the states figure out their own abortion policy.”
Vance went as far as to say that Trump would veto a bill banning abortion at the federal level.
This evolution of Trump on abortion legislation has drawn criticism from a diverse group of evangelical leaders, including Dr. Ed Stetzer of Talbot School of Theology, Dr. Denny Burk of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Dr. Andrew T. Walker of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church, former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis, and Mike Cosper of Christianity Today.
Nevertheless, Trump has consistently appealed to evangelicals throughout all three of his campaigns, portraying himself as their protector and champion.
“I make you a simple promise,” Trump told evangelical attendees of the National Religious Broadcasters convention in February. “In my first term, I fought for Christians harder than any president has ever done before. And I will fight even harder for Christians with four more years in the White House.”
“No one will be touching the cross of Christ under the Trump administration,” he went on to say. “I swear to you—that will never happen, never happen.”
Whether evangelicals will turn out to support Trump in November with the same enthusiasm as in previous elections remains to be seen. A number of high profile evangelicals, including Dr. Albert Mohler of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, have stated that their support for the former president hinges upon his pro-life policy positions.
But for his part, Trump is continuing to pepper his public remarks, albeit clumsily, with references to God and divine intervention. In the wake of his narrow escape from an assassination attempt in July, he has even indicated on more than one occasion that he believes God has anointed him to “save the country” and perhaps even the world.
On Wednesday, Trump continued his efforts to connect with evangelical voters by posting a video from a worship concert.
In a video, award-winning worship artist Brandon Lake can be seen standing on stage runaway fashioned into the shape of a cross, leading a stadium of worshippers in singing Michael W. Smith’s “Agnus Dei,” a cherished worship anthem among evangelicals.
It does not appear that Trump took the video himself but rather that he was sharing a video taken by someone else. Trump posted the video without comment.
Trump right now cannot afford to lose any votes. Unfortunately, he’s starting to lose some Evangelical votes. Someone on his campaign team needs to tell him to put a cork in it.
Part of me hopes that enough Christians don’t vote for Trump because he’s for IVF and he wants to leave abortion to the states after getting Roe overturned. They will find themselves in a communist country with Roe reinstated after packing the courts and wondering what to do next. Do these voters really exist? They’ll be in for a very rude awakening.
I’m beginning to wonder if he really thinks God saved him at that rally or he’s just trying to please the evangelists. Christians are against abortion, period
What he said about Florida is what has me concerned. I don’t mind it being up to the states for abortion rights. A national ban will never pass.
>> he’s starting to lose some Evangelical votes
Awe, so sad
If people are swaying in the breeze about voting for Trump (known to do most things good in his first term), instead of standing firm and voting against the obvious devil controlled Harris, then those waffley people got MUCH BIGGER problems than Trump does.
I’m kinda doubting this.
Up here in rural NW GA, about as deep red as you can get, I have heard zero, nada, nothing, from anyone in our hardcore conservative Baptist Church indicating concerns about voting for Trump. Actually heard nothing from anyone around here in general about evangelicals or conservatives being upset with Trump.
I’m sure we’ll get Assistant Democrats popping up on FR indicating Trump is sure ‘nuff in trouble, from now all the way to the election. I’ve not run into anyone around here, who is remotely conservative, who isn’t horrified about the idea of Kamala being President.
Our country, our future, and the future of freedom around the world hangs in the balance.
Do evangelicals think it is better to have a president that wants to kill babies in and out of the womb, that unleashes a slaughter?
Evangelicals (and some other voting blocs) are like people in a beach condo who are panicking over an overflowing toilet while, if they looked out the window seaward, they would see a tsunami coming.
You can’t lose something you never had. Evangelicals that are still sitting on the fence, are there because they might not vote democrat this time.
I agree with you…
……sadly and horrifically there are certain appointees on this forum who are Hades bent on insinuating, gossiping or lying through their teeth to say whatever it takes to smear Trump!
We are in a War between Angels and Demons……it is real!
And Donald Trump is on the side of those who want redemption and freedom
The other side wishes and works toward our destruction
Be discerning!!!
The dumb thing is that republicans keep falling into the trap. The SCOTUS ruling basically said that there is no role for the federal government on matters of abortion. A federal BAN would also be unconstitutional.
“It does not appear that Trump took the video himself but ....”
Well, duh. Does Mr. Chamberlain think PDJT might to church meetings in disguise shooting videos with his cell phone?
“Unfortunately, he’s starting to lose some Evangelical votes.”
I don’t believe that for a minute. True Evangelicals are 100% aware that overall a Trump administration would be better for them, Christians, and the country than a Harris administration would be.
Trump needs to STFU about anything that has to do with abortion, IVF, etc. His ONLY words should be, “The Supreme Court has ruled on this. Take the matter to your state.”
These single issue voters are the worst. Just me me me me. Trump gave them their biggest win in decades- the overturning of RvW. Now two months before the election Trump is locked in a desperate battle with his opponent and they refuse to cut him some slack, especially with what happened in 2022 with women coming out in droves to vote against him. It’s still me me me and my precious little cause. Trump budges even a little and we will stop supporting him. Ingrates.
Since Evangelist voters are the conservative base in America and what enables republicans to exist and win, why would you mock their vote?
Trump’s bona fides on this issue are indisputable. He appointed the judges 👨⚖️ that overturned Roe v. Wade.
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