President Donald Trump promised Thursday that he would work to “fully defund” the abortion industry, including Planned Parenthood, of taxpayer dollars if re-elected.
“Since my inauguration, I have proudly governed as the most pro-life president in our nation’s history,” Trump said in his letter, addressed to “Pro-Life Leaders and Activists.”
Trump told his supporters that if reelected, he would work together with them to “[f]ully defund the big abortion industry such as Planned Parenthood of our tax dollars.”
The group also wrote, “‘Defunding’ Planned Parenthood = blocking patients from accessing preventative care. It’s a political show with real consequences, harming the 2.4M people a year seeking care.”
Jenny Lawson, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes, said in the statement, “If it wasn’t clear before, it’s crystal clear now: A second Trump term would mean four more years of relentless, withering attacks on reproductive health care, including access to safe, legal abortion.
“Despite record-high support for abortion rights, Trump and his allies in Congress and state legislatures are committed to doing all they can to fill the courts with anti-abortion judges, pass restrictive abortion bans, and try to close Planned Parenthood health centers that provide essential sexual and reproductive health care to 2.4 million patients annually.
Contrast to Biden
In his letter, Trump drew a sharp distinction between Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden’s stance on abortion and that of his own administration.“As I seek re-election this November, I need your help in contrasting my bold pro-life leadership with Joe Biden’s abortion extremism,” Trump wrote. “The Democratic Party unequivocally supports abortion on-demand, up until the moment of birth, and even infanticide—leaving babies to die after failed abortions.”
He added, “Joe Biden’s embrace of this extreme position is most evidenced by his support for taxpayer funding of abortion on-demand. Forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions is an abhorrent position that must be defeated at the ballot box.
“Joe Biden has doubled down on these positions with his selection of abortion extremist Kamala Harris as his running mate. With your help, I will win re-election, ensuring we have another four years to fight in the trenches for unborn children and their mothers.”
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
