Following Donald Trump's victory against Kamala Harris in this week's US Presidential election, many women across the country have been left fearing how his stance on abortion could impact the rights they have over their own bodies.
Trump, who has described himself as 'the most pro-life president in American history', has made a series of conflicting statements on the topic of abortion rights, leading to uncertainty about how he will approach the topic as President.
Donald Trump's conflicting statements on abortion rights
Speaking to Fox News in the midst of his campaign, Trump alluded to the fact he'd be voting to change a law in Florida relating to when the cut-off would be for women to be able to terminate an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy.
"I think six weeks, you need more time," he said.
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But he then indicated he'd vote 'no' on a ballot to change the law the following day, the Associated Press reports.
In March of this year, he pledged his support toward a nationwide ban on abortion after 15 weeks.
In general, he has said states should determine their own abortion policies.
Despite having rarely addressed the topic directly in recent weeks, however, one only need refer to his previous comments on abortion rights to gain an idea of what US legislation on the matter may look like over the next four years.
Trump helped overturn Roe v Wade
Two years ago, the father-of-five publicly praised the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v Wade - a law which generally protected the rights of a woman or person who can have an abortion - describing the move as a 'beautiful thing to watch'.
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While campaigning in 2016, he promised to appoint Supreme Court judges who would overturn the ruling.
And in May of this year, he bragged about his involvement in the change.
"After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v Wade, much to the 'shock' of everyone," Trump told press.
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"Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to. Without me the pro life movement would have just kept losing."
How could Donald Trump restrict women's rights to an abortion in his second term?
The 78-year-old President-elect also claimed ahead of his most recent campaign that he's already considering vetoing any anti-abortion appeals that land on his desk.
One aspect of Project 2025 - 900-page 'wish list' conjured up by Trump's right wing associates that sets out plans for the future - looks to ban the mailing of abortion pills.
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The segment in question proposes using the 1873 Comstock Act be used to ban both medication that prompts an abortion, and equipment that clinics need to carry out the procedure.
Trump has said on the campaign trail, however, that he had 'nothing to do with Project 2025'.
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"I know nothing about Project 2025," he posted on his social media platform, Truth Social. "I have no idea who is behind it.
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"I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal."
Despite his apparently conflict in reasoning, if installed in their most severe form, new women's rights restrictions could mean that even victims of harrowing sexual assault or abuse cases will struggle to terminate unplanned or unwanted pregnancies in the US.
Such legislation could also be used to roll out a nationwide 'de facto' abortion ban.
Obstacles to Donald Trump trying to limit abortion rights
The only hope in this case has been outlined by Katie O’Connor, senior director of federal abortion policy at the National Women’s Law Center.
"Republican politicians have been running away from their staunch anti-abortion policies for the past two years because of how popular, it is clear, that abortion access is," she previously told press.
O'Connor also pointed out that misuse of the Comstock Act in the hope of banishing abortion medication and equipment will thankfully prove to be a tricky business.
"Any attempts to misuse that law to ban abortion nationwide, whether that’s banning medication abortion or all abortions nationwide, would be met with really fierce opposition, both politically and legally," she said
This comes as GPs in the States are attempting to warn politicians that women in desperate situations will likely still go to extreme, often life-threatening lengths to terminate a pregnancy.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, Pregnancy, Parenting, Politics
Rhianna Benson