An Addendum

Regarding my last post in which I describe how right-wing outrage at Trump’s recently stated position on abortion …

I probably didn’t make this clear in that post, so I want to add another thought to it.

Nobody should believe that what Trump said a few days ago — that abortion should be left to the states — is what would actually happen if he wins the election and the GOP were to control both houses of Congress.

His statement was made solely to improve his electoral prospects. By making that statement, he is hoping to convince gullible voters that he won’t sign a national ban and maybe pick up some purple voters who feel strongly about abortion and are unwilling to vote for a candidate who would ban the practice. Trump’s statement was not a principled stand based on constitutional principles. It was entirely self-serving and should not be believed.

But make no mistake about it. If he wins and the GOP controls both houses, one of the first orders of business for the GOP will be a national abortion ban — the only question is how extreme the ban will be. And if Congress passes such a ban, Donald J. Trump will sign it.

My hope is that more and more purple and red states have abortion measures on the ballot in November. Every state that has had one since Roe was overturned has gone in a direction contrary to the views of the anti-abortion right, and these measures bring out voters to vote pro-choice, not just for the measure but for candidates on the ballot.