Former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee are facing backlash from Republicans on social media after adopting a party platform that reflects Trump's position opposing a federal abortion ban and ceding limits to states.
The 2024 Republican platform omits the call for a national ban for the first time in 40 years. The agenda drafted by Trump and his team was quickly and overwhelmingly adopted by the Republican convention's platform committee during a meeting Monday in Milwaukee.
The platform, which Trump's campaign described as "pro-American" and a "stark contrast" to President Joe Biden's record, prioritized immigration and the economy but made only one mention of abortion—an issue that has proved to be a major GOP weakness in recent years.
Abortion rights have appeared to be a winning issue for Democrats following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, causing some Republicans—including Trump—to press the party to ease up on the topic ahead of the election.
In April, Trump made a video announcement advocating that abortion rights be left up to the states, who he said should decide the issue "by vote or legislation."
Trump's 2024 Republican platform reiterates the candidate's current stance.
"We proudly stand for families and Life," the platform reads. "We believe that the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that no person can be denied Life or Liberty without Due Process, and that the States are, therefore, free to pass Laws protecting those Rights."
It continues, "After 51 years, because of us, that power has been given to the States and to a vote of the People. We will oppose Late Term Abortion, while supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF (fertility treatments)."
The 2024 Republican National Convention to choose the party's president and vice presidential nominees for the November election is due to take place at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from July 15 to 18.
The platform has considerably less focus on abortion than Trump's platform in his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. His 2016 platform had a lengthy section on the issue, opposing the use of public funds to perform or promote abortion, supporting the appointment of anti-abortion judges and banning sex-selection abortions and abortions based on disabilities, among other things. It totaled more than 750 words. The 2024 platform includes only 90 words on abortion.
In an interview with Milwaukee's WISN12News, Gail Ruzicka, a platform committee member from Utah, was outraged after Monday's vote on the 2024 agenda.
"They rolled us. That's what they did." Ruzicka told the TV station. "I've never seen this happen before. I don't understand why they did it, and I'm extremely disappointed that we do not have any pro-life language."
"They rolled us. That's what they did."
— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) July 8, 2024
Gail Ruzicka, RNC platform committee member from Utah, just after today's vote in Milwaukee: "I've never seen this happen before. I don't understand why they did it, and I'm extremely disappointed that we do not have any pro-life language" pic.twitter.com/5DIWoialyP
On Monday night, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley told reporters, "We have a very solid pro-life platform. We feel very, very solid about it. I think you can just look at the number of pro-life groups from across the country that have come in and said that they strongly support this platform."
He continued:
"The Republican Party stands for life. And we are always going to stand for life. I think when you look at this platform, you're going to see that it is very pro-America. It is very pro-family. It is very pro-life. And we feel very strong about the language that we have."
Whatley also told ABC News he anticipates the full RNC will vote to approve the platform's language on Monday on the convention floor in Milwaukee.
Mike Pence, Trump's former Vice President, joined the group of conservatives taking aim at the tempered language on abortion.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pence wrote: "The RNC platform is a profound disappointment to the millions of pro-life Republicans that have always looked to the Republican Party to stand for life."
"Now is not the time to surrender any ground in the fight for the right to life. The 2024 platform removed historic pro-life principles that have long been the foundation of the platform. I urge delegates attending next week's Republican Convention to restore language to our party's platform recognizing the sanctity of human life and affirming that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed," Pence's statement continued.
In a lengthy post on X, formerly Twitter, Jason Rapert, founder and president of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, said the RNC's platform was the product of "shortsighted and tone-deaf people."
Rapert also took aim at the platform removing language from the 2016 platform condemning the Supreme Court's 2015 decision to grant same-sex couples the right to marry. The 2024 platform does not weigh in on the issue of same-sex marriage.
"The weakening of Life and Marriage statements in the RNC Platform Committee is a serious mistake. I have helped FIGHT tooth and nail to help elect Republicans in Arkansas and spoken in churches all over the country encouraging Christians to vote for Republicans BECAUSE they honored God and stood up strongly for Life and Traditional Marriage," Rapert wrote.
"Today, some shortsighted and tone-deaf people chose to abandon the bold platform language on Life and Marriage in the Republican Party Platform. This is a mistake that is already causing people to second guess their efforts in the upcoming election. It is shameful."
Trump's former lawyer, Jenna Ellis, posted on X: "You cannot be a faithful Christian and a faithful Republican after today. You cannot be loyal to two contradicting stances. For a long time, Christians have said it's impossible to be a faithful Christian and vote Democrat because of their policies.
"Well, choose ye this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I am not and will not be a member of the Republican Party under this platform."
Other anti-abortion conservatives were also quick in rebuking the platform.
"The RNC no longer supports: A federal abortion ban; Marriage exclusively between one man and one woman. This is Christless Conservativism (sic)," conservative media personality John Root said on X.
"The Republican Party's platform has been changed to now only opposing "late term abortion." Evil and unacceptable!" Texas pastor Tom Buck wrote on X.
Update: 7/9/2024, 6:19 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with more information.
About the writer
Gabe Whisnant is Deputy Weekend Editor at Newsweek based in South Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he directed ... Read more
