However, when speaking at an event for the political arm of Concerned Women for America, a right-wing, anti-LGBTQ, anti-abortion activist group, Trump did say that he supported exceptions to an abortion ban for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. “Something is going to happen where both sides are going to be able to come together,” he told Welker, without specifying what that something would be or how it would come about.
Though Welker confronted him with reports of women suing their states for the harm they suffered under restrictive abortion policies, Trump doubled down on his conspiracy theories but ultimately equivocated about whether or not he would sign a ban into law, what exceptions should be included in such a ban, or how Congress would come to an agreement on such a polarizing issue.
When asked if he would sign a 15-week ban on abortion, Trump repeatedly lied that Democrats advocate for post-birth abortion and abortions up to “five, six, seven, eight, nine months,” implying that Democrats wanted late-term abortions on demand, rather than in the medically necessary cases in which they occur. Welker’s interview attempted to corral Trump on serious policy issues - an essentially impossible task despite her efforts to keep him on topic. Trump doesn’t know substantive policy - but he knows what appeals to his followers The interview underscored a vagueness on substantive policy which allows Trump’s supporters and potential voters to read what they want into his statements and feel like he represents their interests, while also letting him double down on election-denying conspiracy theories. Sunday’s interview shows that Trump still lacks the vision, understanding, and capability to effectively govern - and that his only goal, as always, is self-promotion. Trump turned serious questions about abortion policy, the war in Ukraine, the economy, and fiscal policy into an aggrieved rehash of the 2020 election - which he still falsely claims was “stolen” - and claimed his energy policies would have prevented the war in Ukraine by driving oil prices down. But unsurprisingly he failed to do so, in line with his previous campaigning and governing style. Since Trump has thus far refused to participate in the Republican debates, Sunday’s appearance should have been a time for him to articulate his policy vision should he be reelected. Donald Trump appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, ostensibly to discuss his platform for the 2024 campaign - but ultimately responding to interviewer Kristen Welker’s questions with his trademark blend of self-aggrandizement and conspiracy theory.
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