Trump made sure to avoid this word.
Former President Donald Trump will largely avoid the topic of abortion in his brief remarks to a Christian group that opposes the practice on Monday.
In a two-minute virtual speech to the Danbury Institute, Trump will make a brief mention of protecting “innocent life” in response to criticism from the Biden campaign about his appearance at the event. However, he will not delve deeply into the contentious issue of abortion, which has become a significant point of debate in the presidential race.
According to remarks obtained by the Washington Examiner, Trump will say, “We must defend religious liberty, free speech, innocent life, and the heritage and traditions that have built America into the greatest nation in history.” He will also express his appreciation for the group’s efforts, stating, “I know each of you is safeguarding these values daily, and I hope we will continue to defend them together for the next four years.” This prerecorded video will be shown at a sold-out forum in Indianapolis, co-hosted with the Southern Baptist Convention.
Trump’s handling of the abortion issue reflects the delicate balance he is attempting to maintain. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Democrats have used the topic to challenge Republicans. While Trump has highlighted his role in appointing the justices who made this decision, he has also tried to downplay its impact on his campaign by suggesting in April that abortion restrictions should be determined by individual states.
The Danbury Institute is firmly against abortion. Its website declares, “More than 60 million pre-born humans, each wonderfully made in the image of God, have been murdered on our watch. Abortion must be ended. We will not rest until it is eradicated entirely.”
Democrats are leveraging the Republicans’ nuanced stance on abortion to appeal to voters, particularly in key districts and states. The House Majority PAC has launched a $100 million campaign to mobilize voters around abortion access, aiming to help Democrats regain control of the GOP-led House.
On the presidential front, President Joe Biden’s campaign criticized Trump for addressing the forum. Biden’s spokeswoman, Sarafina Chitika, stated, “If you want to know who Trump will fight for in a second term, look at who he’s spending his time speaking to: anti-abortion extremists who call abortion ‘child sacrifice’ and want to ‘eradicate’ it entirely.”