Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump punched back at the abortion “hardliners” and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who criticized his endorsement of leaving the issue with states, singling out Graham for doing a “disservice” to the party.

Graham; Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America; and former Vice President Mike Pence — among others — were quick to criticize Trump when he pivoted on abortion, opting against a 15-week national abortion ban to say Wednesday that the issue belongs with the states. In a video released on Truth Social, Trump said, “Now it’s up to the states to do the right thing.”

That brought a hail of criticism, which Trump counterpunched late Wednesday afternoon, starting with Graham, who said he “respectfully” disagreed with Trump’s about-face.

“Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a great disservice to the Republican Party, and to our Country,” Trump posted to Truth Social.

“At first he wanted no Abortions under any circumstances, then he was up to 6 weeks, where you’re allowed Abortion, now he’s up to 15 weeks, where you’re allowed Abortion, but what he doesn’t understand, or perhaps he does, is the Radical Left Democrats, who are destroying our Country, will never approve anything that he or the Republicans want. They love this Issue, and they want to keep it going for as long as Republicans will allow them to do so.”

Trump during a March 20 radio interview signaled he was leaning toward a 15-week national abortion ban with exceptions. “The number of weeks now, people are agreeing on: 15. And I’m thinking in terms of that. And it’ll come out to something that’s very reasonable,” he said then.

Dannenfelser released a statement Wednesday morning that said: “We are deeply disappointed in President Trump’s position,” accusing Trump of ceding “the national debate to Democrats.”

Trump countered, “When the Supreme Court had the courage to do the right thing LEGALLY, and terminate Roe v. Wade, all of those people, including Lindsey Graham and Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony that were ‘hardliners’, one day after the Victory, were gone and of absolutely no help, as the Democrats staged rallies and won Elections they should never have won.”

“Lindsey, Marjorie, and others fought for years, unsuccessfully, until I came along and got the job done. Then they were gone, never to be heard from again, until now,” Trump said in a second post.

In discussing abortion during his video, Trump said he supported exceptions for rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother.

“By allowing the States to make their decision, and hoping that most Republicans running for Office will have the sense, although they must always follow their heart, to require the EXCEPTIONS for Rape, Incest, and Life of the Mother, we have taken the Abortion Issue largely out of play,” Trump said in his post Wednesday afternoon.

Trump nominated three Supreme Court justices who joined other conservative on the bench in June 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had legalized abortion nationwide.

© 2024 Newsmax. All rights reserved.