Trump repeats bizarre ‘execution’ claims as he endorses states’ ability to ban abortions

Former president Donald Trump repeated right-wing talking points that Democrats support execution after birth, but refused to support a national abortion ban, saying that the issue should be left to the states.

The former president finally laid out his stance on abortion rights after teasing at what his position would be for months. In a four-minute long video posted on Truth Social, Mr Trump said he was “proudly the person responsible for the end of Roe v Wade, the 1973 landmark ruling that had enshrined the right to an abortion and reproductive care.

“Many people have asked me what my position is on abortion and abortion rights, especially since I was proudly the person responsible for something that all legal scholars both sides wanted and in fact demanded be ended: Roe vs Wade. They wanted it ended,” he said.

He thanked the six conservative Supreme Court justices – three of whom he appointed – for “having the courage for this long-fought battle to end”.

“This 50-year battle over Roe v Wade took it out of the federal hands and brought it into the hearts, mind and votes of the people in each state – it’s really something,” he said.

But despite taking credit for nominating the justices who shifted the balance of the court to deliver the Dobbs v Jackson decision in 2022, he has notably avoided taking a specific stance on abortion.

The former president went on to push the false claims that Democrats want abortion up to and including the ninth month of pregnancy – and “even execution after birth”.

“That’s exactly what it is. The baby is born, the baby is executed after birth,” he claimed.

This claim has been disproven on multiple occasions. A baby being executed after birth would constitute as murder, which is of course