Former President Donald Trump stated on Monday that abortion legislation should be determined by individual states, marking his clearest position yet on one of America's

most contentious issues.

"In my view, now that we have legal abortion as desired by many, the states should decide through voting, legislation, or both. Whatever they decide should be the law of the land, in this case, the law of the state," Trump said in a video shared on his Truth Social account.

"States will differ. Some will have different time limits, some more conservative than others, and that's how it should be. At the end of the day, it's about the will of the people," he added.

Previously, Trump had hinted at potentially supporting a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks, with exceptions for cases of incest, rape, and when the mother's life is in danger. However, his latest decision to leave the issue to the states, rather than endorsing a national ban, was met with criticism from a major anti-abortion organization, which argued that his stance didn't go far enough.

In his video statement, Trump claimed credit for the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, which he said removed the issue "from federal hands and placed it in the hearts, minds, and votes of the people in each state."

Although Trump did not specify the number of weeks into a pregnancy at which he believes abortion should be banned, he reiterated his support for certain exceptions. His video statement came amid ongoing debates over abortion laws, particularly following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which removed federal abortion protections.

Leading anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America expressed disappointment with Trump's position, emphasizing the need for national protections and advocacy for unborn children and their mothers.

Trump's remarks faced criticism from former Vice President Mike Pence, who characterized the announcement as a setback for the Right to Life movement and a disappointment to pro-life Americans.

Trump's claim in the video that "all legal scholars, both sides" wanted Roe v. Wade overturned was disputed, as many scholars supporting abortion rights, along with a majority of Americans in opinion polls, did not support overturning the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide.

Trump's shifting stance on abortion has been evident throughout his political career, from previously identifying as "very pro-choice" to later aligning himself with conservative anti-abortion views during his presidential campaigns. Despite attempts to clarify his position, Trump's latest statement is unlikely to quell debates over abortion rights as Democrats continue to highlight his role in reshaping the Supreme Court and its impact on abortion laws across the country. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.