Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, publicly disagreed with former President Donald Trump’s recent comments advocating for abortion to be left to the discretion of each state rather than implementing a national ban.
In response to Trump’s statements made on Truth Social, Graham expressed his disagreement, stating that he respectfully disagrees with Trump’s assertion that abortion is solely a states’ rights issue.
Senator Lindsey Graham (Credits: Fox News)
Graham highlighted that while the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the abortion issue to the states, he believes that the pro-life movement has always been centered around the wellbeing of the unborn child rather than being dictated by geographical boundaries.
He criticized the notion of states’ rights as the sole rationale for abortion policy, likening it to the historical Dred Scott decision, which upheld slavery.
Acknowledging the scientific consensus that a fetus at fifteen weeks is well-developed and capable of feeling pain, Graham reiterated his support for a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks, with exceptions for cases of rape, incest, and when the life of the mother is at risk.
Former President Donald Trump (Credits: BBC)
He referenced the abortion regulations in European nations, where the majority have national limits on abortion between 12-15 weeks. Graham announced his intention to introduce legislation requiring abortion providers to administer anesthesia to unborn children at fifteen weeks to mitigate their pain during the procedure.
He argued that since it is standard medical practice to administer anesthesia to operate on an unborn child at fifteen weeks to save their life, similar consideration should be given to unborn children facing abortion procedures.
This stance indicates a potential shift in focus for Graham, who previously mentioned his plans to reintroduce legislation for a nationwide 15-week abortion ban before the general election.
