Donald Trump Claims He Won't Sign A National Abortion Ban If Elected

Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he won’t sign a national abortion ban if elected in November — but cleared up nothing about whether he or his appointees would implement a backdoor ban.

When asked in a press gaggle in Georgia if he would sign a federal abortion ban, Trump responded “no” and shook his head, according to CNN’s Kristen Holmes.

The presumptive GOP presidential nominee has been intentionally vague about his stance on abortion since it’s become apparent that the topic is a losing issue for Republicans. But the former president has a long history of anti-abortion policy and continues to align himself with some of the most extreme players in the anti-choice movement ― many of whom would be a part of his administration if reelected.

Although he said he wouldn’t sign a federal ban if Congress sent him one, Trump did not mention anything about the Comstock Act, a 151-year-old law that criminalizes sending “obscene” materials in the mail, which he could enforce to create a backdoor national abortion ban. Many of his current allies have laid out a policy agenda that includes revoking FDA approval of mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortion that can be received through mail, and reviving the Comstock Act if he takes office in January.

Earlier this week, the former president said in a statement that he was proud of his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, but he supports leaving abortion rights to the states. He also skillfully avoided the topic of a national abortion ban in the statement, a move that was heavily criticized by abortion rights advocates and opponents.

There were previous reports that Trump was considering a national abortion ban around 15 or 16 weeks, likely to placate