Trump tells anti-abortion activists to stay united

WA S H I NGTON» With Alabama’s restrictive new abortion law stirring divisions on the right, President Donald Trump implored anti-abortion activists to stay united heading into the 2020 election even as he laid out where his personal views differ from the legislation.

In a series of tweets posted just before midnight Saturday, Trump said gains by anti-abortion activists will “rapidly disappear” if, as he put it, “we are foolish and do not stay UNITED as one.”

Trump did not state whether he is for or against Alabama’s law, underscoring the fine line a president seeking re-election is trying to walk between a conservative base that favors criminalizing access to abortion and potentially angering women who already are skeptical of him. The Alabama law forbids the procedure in almost all circumstances, including cases of rape and incest.

Trump laid out personal views that differ, saying he supports the right to an abortion when rape or incest is involved, or when the pregnant woman’s life is at risk.

White House officials did not respond Sunday to emailed requests seeking additional comment on the president’s position.

Disagreement among Republicans is becoming apparent over Alabama’s law, and Trump sees Democrats taking advantage of that.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, the top Republican in the Democratic-controlled chamber, opposed the law, saying he supports exceptions for rape and incest and serious risk to the woman’s life. Evangelist Pat Robertson, meanwhile, said the law is too “extreme” and not the best vehicle to attempt to force the Supreme Court to revisit — and possibly overturn — Roe vs. Wade, the high court’s 1973 ruling that established a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.

Several of the Democrats who are competing for the right to challenge Trump in 2020 have come out against Alabama’s law and other state moves to impose new abortion restrictions.