Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is running to be president in 2024, has publicly voiced his disagreement with former President Donald Trump over his criticism of Florida’s six-week abortion ban.
What Happened: ABC7 Chicago reported on Tuesday that DeSantis accused Trump of having changed his stance from his 2016 presidential campaign. This response was triggered by Trump’s recent NBC’s “Meet The Press” interview, in which he labeled the six-week abortion ban in Florida as “terrible”.
“He claimed to be pro-life. He spoke at the March for Life and was waxing eloquently about how everybody counts,” said DeSantis, according to the report.
“For him to then attack people like Iowa, South Carolina, Florida, all these other states, I thought that was a big mistake,” DeSantis said.
During the unveiling of his new energy plan in Midland, Texas, DeSantis suggested that Trump’s comments indicate a deviation from his previous pro-life position. DeSantis, who lags behind Trump in the polls for the 2024 Republican nomination, asserted that voters supporting anti-abortion would favor stricter restrictions.
Trump’s remarks have sparked a debate among other anti-abortion Republican leaders, including Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign defended the former President’s anti-abortion advocacy record, pointing out his role in overturning Roe v. Wade’s abortion protections through his Supreme Court appointees.
See Also: Trump Insists Claim Of ‘Rigged’ 2020 Election Was His Own Decision: ‘I Saw What Happened’
Why It Matters: DeSantis told ABC’s Linsey Davis that Trump’s positions have shifted from the ones he took in 2015 while running for president.
“I think he’s taking positions that I think are different from what he took in 2015 when he first came onto the scene. And I do think he’s a different candidate today than he was back then. And I think the one back then was probably closer to where Republican voters want to be than the latest iteration.”
Trump’s opposition to DeSantis’ six-week abortion ban has previously drawn criticism from conservatives, potentially impacting his potential third run for the presidency as reported earlier. Trump’s disapproval of Republicans advocating for a total abortion ban, including exceptions for rape and incest, was also highlighted during his MSNBC interview.
Trump's criticism of the Florida abortion restriction has led to backlash from other Republican governors like Kim Reynolds and Brian Kemp. The governors defended their abortion bans, emphasizing the protection of innocent life as a priority as noted here.
Moreover, Trump’s decision to skip the second GOP primary debate was publicly criticized by former Vice President Mike Pence, who described it as a "missed opportunity" as seen here. Pence and Trump are both contenders for the GOP nomination in 2024.
Photo via Shutterstock
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