NEW YORK — Earlier this year, Donald Trump was considering endorsing a 16-week federal abortion ban, but his aides intervened to dissuade him from that decision. According to a cover piece by Time exploring Trump’s candidacy for the 2024 elections, concerns were initially raised in mid-March regarding the proposed abortion cutoff being more stringent than current state laws. This was perceived as a potential detriment to his political ambitions, especially in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has created ripples across the political landscape, given that three justices on the court were appointed by Trump himself during his first term.
James Blair, Trump’s political director, crafted a presentation titled “How a national abortion ban will cost Trump the election.” It highlighted how such a ban could be politically harmful to Trump’s campaign in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Following a review of Blair’s findings during a flight to a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in April, Trump decided not to pursue the ban. He was quoted as saying, “So we leave it to the states, right?” shortly after which he released a video underscoring that stance.
At that time, Trump’s campaign dismissed rumors about his support for the 16-week ban, labeling them as “fake news,” while maintaining that he would look to negotiate abortion-related policies if he were to win the presidency.
In other insights from the interview, Trump reiterated plans to issue pardons for most of those implicated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He stated that the pardons could begin “in the first hour,” hinting at a potentially swift judicial review process. Over 1,500 individuals have faced federal charges in connection to the riot that injured numerous law enforcement officers and interrupted Congress’s certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
On issues related to immigration, Trump asserted he would utilize military resources for mass deportations despite legal restrictions, claiming, “It doesn’t stop the military if it’s an invasion of our country.” He did not shy away from suggesting the need for camps to hold detained migrants until they can be deported, but emphasized he would prefer family units be deported together rather than separating them.
Regarding the appointment of Elon Musk to lead a newly proposed advisory group, Trump dismissed concerns about potential conflicts of interest, suggesting Musk prioritizes the country’s needs over his own business interests. In a continued effort to address economic issues, Trump expressed acknowledgment of the challenges in reducing grocery prices but remained optimistic about progress.
Trump also discussed a potential reorganization of the Department of Education, suggesting a “virtual closure” while promoting educational decisions at the state level. Although aiming to shift authority back to the states, he indicated his intention to have a significant influence over school curricula.
When asked about the future of abortion medications, Trump gave mixed signals about his commitment to ensuring access, indicating a comprehensive review of the matter would take place. Similarly, on foreign policy, he expressed hopes to utilize U.S. support for Ukraine as leverage in negotiations to end the war with Russia, refusing to abandon Ukraine’s cause.
Concerning relation to Israel and Palestine, he was noncommittal about endorsing a two-state solution but emphasized the necessity for a lasting peace agreement. He articulated distrust towards international leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, conveying a general skepticism towards those in power.
On the possibility of conflict with Iran, Trump noted that anything could happen given the volatility of the situation in the region. Furthermore, he did not clarify whether he had ongoing communications with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the recent elections.
Trump recounted his attempt to appoint Matt Gaetz as attorney general but stated it was unlikely to succeed due to significant backlash, leading him to retain former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the post instead. He also hinted at a reconsideration of childhood vaccination policies and talked about members of his family potentially continuing his political legacy, mentioning his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as a possible candidate for public office.
Finally, in a personal reflection, he confirmed that Melania Trump would be present with him in the White House during his upcoming term, stating that she would be actively engaged whenever necessary, and reinforcing her positive public perception.