Trump campaign vs. Trump administration: on Abortion
Bill Clinton:
1993: Rescind Mexico City Policy: fund abortion abroad
Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, a policy regarding non-governmental organization (NGO) funding and abortion named after the city in which it was announced. The Mexico City Policy--called the "Global Gag Rule" by
political opponents--was introduced by President Ronald Reagan (R) in 1984 and makes "neither performing nor actively promoting abortion as a method of family planning in other nations" conditions of receiving federal funding for any NGO.
Rescinding or reinstating this policy has become a tradition when party control of the White House changes. After being instituted in 1984 by Reagan, President Bill Clinton (D) rescinded the policy on January 22, 1993.
Exactly nine years later, President George W. Bush (R) reinstated the policy, only to have in rescinded by President Barack Obama (D) on January 23, 2009.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2017 Trump transition
Jan 27, 2017
Bill Clinton:
Allow medical research that uses tissue from aborted fetuses
The Trump administration announced that the federal government would sharply curtail federal spending on medical research that uses tissue from aborted fetuses, mainly by ending fetal-tissue research within the NIH.But scientists say the tissue is
crucial for studies that benefit millions of patients. Critics say it also fit a pattern by the administration of diminishing the role of science and research in policymaking, including on climate change and tariffs.
Shortly after he took office,
President Bill Clinton lifted a five-year ban on fetal tissue research imposed by Presidents Reagan and Bush. The fight flared again in 2015, after anti-abortion activists released doctored videos they secretly took, purporting to show
Planned Parenthood officials discussing plans to illegally sell aborted fetal tissue for research. House Republicans began an investigation of the fetal-tissue market; a number of states also investigated but found no wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood.
Source: New York Times on 2019-2020 Trump Administration
Jun 5, 2019
Donald Trump:
Reinstate Mexico City Policy: end abortion funding abroad
Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, a policy regarding non-governmental organization (NGO) funding and abortion named after the city in which it was announced. The Mexico City Policy--called the "Global Gag Rule" by
political opponents--was introduced by President Ronald Reagan (R) in 1984 and makes "neither performing nor actively promoting abortion as a method of family planning in other nations" conditions of receiving federal funding for any NGO.
Rescinding or reinstating this policy has become a tradition when party control of the White House changes. After being instituted in 1984 by Reagan, President Bill Clinton (D) rescinded the policy on January 22, 1993.
Exactly nine years later, President George W. Bush (R) reinstated the policy, only to have in rescinded by President Barack Obama (D) on January 23, 2009.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2017 Trump transition
Jan 27, 2017
Donald Trump:
End medical research that uses tissue from aborted fetuses
The Trump administration announced that the federal government would sharply curtail federal spending on medical research that uses tissue from aborted fetuses, mainly by ending fetal-tissue research within the National Institutes of Health.
The move goes a long way toward fulfilling a top goal of anti-abortion groups that have lobbied hard for it. But scientists say the tissue is crucial for studies that benefit millions of patients.
"Promoting the dignity of human life from conception to natural death is one of the very top priorities of President Trump's administration," the department said in a statement. It added that about 200 research projects involving fetal tissue and
conducted at universities with N.I.H. grants would be allowed to continue until their funding expires, but that ethics advisory boards would review and recommend whether to fund future individual projects involving aborted fetal tissue.
Source: New York Times on 2019-2020 Trump Administration
Jun 5, 2019
Larry Kudlow:
Trump's support of late-term abortion ban is "gift from god"
[President Trump's] support of a ban on late-term partial-birth abortion was a heaven-sent gift from God. Trump's opposition to abortion, in general, is a wonderful thing. So is his pledge to nominate pro-life judges, and his related idea that if
pro-life judges overturn Roe v. Wade, that's fine. Send abortion back to the states where it started. So I sincerely hope that in Gettysburg, just as President Lincoln defended the ending of slavery, Trump continues to defend the life of the unborn.
Source: CNBC's Larry Kudlow column: 2016 Trump Transition/Cabinet
Oct 22, 2016
Ronald Reagan:
1984 Mexico City Policy: no abortion funding abroad
Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, a policy regarding non-governmental organization (NGO) funding and abortion named after the city in which it was announced. The Mexico City Policy--called the "Global Gag Rule" by
political opponents--was introduced by President Ronald Reagan (R) in 1984 and makes "neither performing nor actively promoting abortion as a method of family planning in other nations" conditions of receiving federal funding for any NGO.
Rescinding or reinstating this policy has become a tradition when party control of the White House changes. After being instituted in 1984 by Reagan, President Bill Clinton (D) rescinded the policy on January 22, 1993.
Exactly nine years later, President George W. Bush (R) reinstated the policy, only to have in rescinded by President Barack Obama (D) on January 23, 2009.
Source: Ballotpedia.org coverage of 2017 Trump transition
Jan 27, 2017
Page last updated: Nov 02, 2024