Pro-life critics who argue Donald Trump hasn’t been genuinely pro-life focus on specific actions and inconsistencies that clash with their absolutist stance, especially as of early 2025. They zero in on a few key points where they feel he’s betrayed the movement.
First, his support for IVF has been a lightning rod. After his February 2025 executive order pushing for broader IVF access—framing it as a pro-family move—groups like Students for Life and Live Action ripped into him. They argue IVF inherently destroys embryos, which they see as human lives, making it fundamentally anti-life. Critics like Lila Rose have publicly called him out, saying on X that “IVF isn’t pro-life, it’s playing God with disposable babies,” and accusing Trump of pandering to moderates instead of holding a consistent ethic.
Second, his refusal to back a federal abortion ban rankles hardline pro-lifers. Since 2022’s Dobbs decision, Trump has stuck to a states’ rights line, dodging calls for national restrictions. Pro-life purists, like those at LifeSiteNews or the American Life League, say this is a cop-out—leaving babies unprotected in blue states. They’ve labeled him a “political opportunist” who’ll only go as far as the votes take him, not a true believer in fetal personhood.
Third, some point to his past. Before 2016, Trump was openly pro-choice—his 1999 “pro-choice in every respect” comment still haunts him in these circles. Critics like Abby Johnson, a prominent activist, have questioned his conversion, suggesting on X and elsewhere that his pro-life shift was a calculated grab for evangelical support, not a heartfelt change. They tie this to his exceptions for rape, incest, and maternal health, which strict pro-lifers see as compromising the sanctity of life.
Finally, his administration’s early 2025 focus—like prioritizing economic wins over immediate abortion crackdowns—has fueled gripes. Some X posts from pro-life accounts call him a “fake pro-lifer,” arguing he’s more about tax cuts and deportations than dismantling abortion nationwide. They see his judicial picks and funding cuts as half-measures, not the bold strokes needed.
These critics don’t deny his practical wins—like overturning Roe—but insist he’s not pro-life enough, accusing him of treating the cause as a bargaining chip rather than a moral absolute.
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