Ron DeSantis Attacks Trump for Not Being Able to Answer Abortion Question

Ron DeSantis Attacks Trump for Not Being Able to Answer Abortion Question

(RightWing.org) – The war of words between former president and 2024 hopeful Donald Trump and his potential rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is heating up. Trump recently discussed DeSantis’s latest abortion law but didn’t say whether he would have supported it or not. The popular governor seems unhappy about that — and he’s making his feelings known.

In a May 15 interview with The Messenger, Trump was asked about abortion, but he was reluctant to say exactly what sort of restrictions he wants. Allies of the former president say he thinks a federal abortion ban is a vote loser for the GOP — polls show he’s probably right — and prefers to leave it to the states.

Discussing Florida’s new ban on abortions after six weeks except in cases of rape, incest or a risk to the mother’s life, which DeSantis signed in April, Trump said of DeSantis, “He has to do what he has to do,” but added that many pro-life activists “feel that that (sic) was too harsh.”

DeSantis didn’t waste any time in hitting back. At a press conference the next day, he said he was proud to have signed the bill and slammed Trump, saying, “He won’t answer whether he would sign it or not.” It’s a strong hint that the governor is trying to get around Trump’s right flank on the abortion debate because while polls suggest a majority of US voters don’t support tough federal abortion restrictions, a majority of voters in GOP primaries certainly do, according to poll results reported by Mediaite.

Any presidential hopeful has to get past those voters before they can worry about how their policies will play out on election day, and even though DeSantis hasn’t declared his candidacy, he seems to be building a platform aimed at beating Trump to the nomination. If DeSantis does decide to run next year, and Trump lets him grab the pro-life vote, Trump’s early lead with the GOP grassroots movement could take a beating.

Copyright 2023, RightWing.org