Benzinga - by Shanthi Rexaline, Benzinga Editor.
Following Florida Governor Ron DeSantis‘ implementation of a six-week abortion ban, clinical psychologist Mary Trump, niece of former President Donald Trump, weighed in on the development and its potential impact on Republicans.
What Happened: Mary Trump criticized the Republican Party, describing the ban as a “chilling reminder of the precarious state of women's rights in this country as long as the Republican Party – and Donald Trump's Supreme Court – has any power at all.”
She emphasized that such legislation not only infringes on women’s autonomy but also poses serious safety risks. “Making abortions difficult or impossible to attain puts women's lives in jeopardy,” she said.
Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe Vs. Wade verdict in 2022, Florida banned abortion after 15 weeks. It, nevertheless, was less extreme than what was implemented in most of Florida’s neighboring states, and therefore people from elsewhere traveled to the Sunshine State for abortion care, Mary Trump noted.
Therefore, the latest legislation in Florida will be felt beyond Florida’s border, the psychologist said. “Loss of autonomy and control over their own bodies can cause feelings of helplessness and depression leading in severe cases to self-harm and suicide,” she said.
Trump’s Role: Mary Trump noted that her uncle had said he took responsibility for the overturning of the Roe v. Wade verdict. “This development in Florida presents another opportunity to make sure people tie the draconian anti-abortion legislations being enacted in red states throughout the country directly to Donald's policies and to his Supreme Court majority,” she said.
“His appointment of three illegitimate religious extremists to the Supreme Court led directly to the ability of 24 U.S. states to enact laws banning nearly all abortions by January 2023.”
Mary Trump noted that her uncle has been opportunistic. “Donald has no ideology and his shifting stance on abortion rights is purely opportunistic,” she said.
Last month, after the abortion ban was thrown up as a key election issue by several opinion polls, Donald Trump said he wanted the issue to be left to the states. His niece had then said in a post that leaving the decision to the states is an “invitation for more draconian abortion bans.”
The author and podcaster said Wednesday that “Florida's law will only galvanize Democrats in a crucial swing state inspiring them to turn out in even greater numbers.” Citing survey results, she said 61% of U.S. adults believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with young voters feeling it even stronger.
“About three-quarters of 18- to 29-year-olds say abortion should generally be legal, and in the 2022 midterms, young voters cited abortion as the top issue influencing their vote,” she said.
“The 6-week abortion ban in Florida is a significant development in the ongoing assault on abortion rights in the United States. Donald's role in this narrative is undeniable,” Mary Trump said.
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