President Joe Biden called out rival Donald Trump in a high-profile speech in Florida on Tuesday, blaming the former president for the spread of abortion bans since the end of Roe v. Wade as he encouraged women voters to vote for him in November and rebuked those he called opponents of reproductive freedom.
“Let’s be real clear: There’s one person responsible for this nightmare, and he’s acknowledged it and brags about it: Donald Trump,” Biden said in a speech from Hillsborough Community College outside Tampa, one week before the state’s six-week ban, with only a few exceptions, takes effect.
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Biden stated that Trump has “ripped away” women’s freedom across the country by appointing three judges to the United States Supreme Court who decided against Roe. However, Biden stated that women have the political capacity to push back.
“When you do that, it will teach Donald Trump and the extreme MAGA Republicans a valuable lesson: Don’t mess with the women of America,” the president stated.
Biden’s speech, which drew jeers for Trump and cheers for his support for abortion access, was the latest high-profile effort by his team to highlight the topic as the general election campaign heats up.
Ahead of the event, officials stated that Biden’s speech would link access to contraception, in vitro fertilization, and abortion to the outcome of the upcoming 2024 election, presenting a picture of what is at stake in this cycle.
The president mentioned women in his speech who had to travel far from home for abortions or couldn’t access emergency care because of state restrictions.
He blasted Trump for applauding the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe in 2022 and returning the problem to the local level.
Since then, 21 states have imposed limits or prohibitions on abortion.
Sarcastically repeating a prior Trump remark, “The states are operating extremely wonderfully, in some cases conservative, in some cases not conservative, but they’re working,”ย Biden quipped on Tuesday, “That’s a six-week ban in Florida, isn’t that brilliant? Isn’t it fantastic that ladies can be pregnant before they even realize it?”
Biden also linked Trump to a recent Arizona Supreme Court verdict that reinstated a harsh, Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions in the state, which may go into force as early as June.
Trump has stated that the ban goes too far and should be repealed, but Biden argued during his remarks that “Trump is literally taking us back 160 years.”
Abortion is not a state issue, as Biden stated. He was flanked by a “Restore Roe” placard and again promised that if enough Democratic members are elected and he remains in office, he will work to codify Roe’s safeguards in Congress.
“He [Trump] is wrong, and the Supreme Court was wrong.” It should be a nationwide constitutional right that applies regardless of where you live in America,” Biden stated. “This isn’t about states’ rights; this is about women’s rights.”
The Biden campaign has been more critical of Trump’s views on abortion, especially his new position that it should be up to local leaders and voters.
Trump emphasizes his support for three crucial exceptions: rape, incest, and the life of a pregnant woman. He also states that if elected, he will not sign a national abortion ban, contradicting a previous vow.
“We returned it to the states… “And it’s working the way it should,” he stated earlier this month.
Biden attacked that viewpoint in his speech on Tuesday, claiming that Trump is “worried that voters will hold him accountable” for the “cruelty and chaos” of state-level restrictions.
“The bad news for Trump is that we are going to hold him accountable,” stated Vice President Joe Biden.
He also stated that voters should not accept Trump’s rhetoric on abortion given his background, asking, “How many times does he have to prove [he] can’t be trusted?”
“He describes the Dobbs decision [overruling Roe] as a miracle,” Biden added.
“Maybe it’s coming from that Bible he’s trying to sell,” Biden said, alluding to a recent item of Trump’s goods. “Whoa, I almost wanted to buy one just to see what the hell’s in it.”
Voters speak
June Johns, a St. Petersburg, Florida resident and registered Democrat, expressed her concerns about the state of women’s reproductive rights in the United States.
“I find it hard to understand how one can advocate for the sanctity of life without also showing concern for the well-being of women,” Johns expressed. “Moreover, I am present here today because I firmly believe that Joe Biden provides us with one of the most promising opportunities to safeguard our democracy.”
Mary Hanrahan, a Democrat from Gulfport, Florida, commended Biden for his visit to the state, especially in light of the upcoming six-week abortion ban. Hanrahan specifically praised a proposed initiative aimed at expanding abortion access, which abortion advocates in Florida managed to include on the November ballot.
“I believe that it is crucial for every citizen in Florida to support Amendment Four and eliminate the six-week abortion ban,” expressed Hanrahan. “In my opinion, this ban is not a favorable decision. It is essential for individuals to have autonomy over their own bodies.”
Abortion ‘will decide this election,’ Dems say
Democrats view the issue as energizing their base and vital for winning over swing voters.
During his visit to Florida, Biden made remarks on Tuesday that were particularly noteworthy. This is due to his complex stance on abortion, which is influenced by his deep-rooted Catholic faith.
Last year, he openly admitted, “I don’t particularly support abortion. However, it’s worth mentioning that Roe v. Wade made the correct decision. The ruling, which generally permits abortions up until the second trimester, aligns with the consensus among the majority of religious beliefs.”
Some Democrats have been pushing Biden to be more assertive in his approach.
Biden’s visit to Florida on Tuesday highlights the Democrats’ cautious hope of regaining the state in the upcoming November elections. Despite their defeat in 2020 and 2016, they believe that this time they have a chance. Meanwhile, Republicans have celebrated several significant victories in Florida, including the successful tenure of Governor Ron DeSantis.
Republicans who spoke with ABC News downplayed the Democratic enthusiasm, emphasizing the GOP’s success in winning numerous local races. They also highlighted the Democrats’ previous messaging on abortion, which did not result in electoral victories for them.
The Biden campaign, however, remains optimistic, seeing potential in the current situation.
Tyler, speaking to reporters earlier this week, expressed his belief that the president’s visit to the state tomorrow is not merely “window dressing.” He emphasized the seriousness with which they approach Florida, stating that the notion of Donald Trump having the state secured is far from accurate. Tyler also highlighted the significance of the upcoming election for women in Florida and beyond.
This report was contributed to by a team of ABC News journalists including Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Mary Bruce, Libby Cathey, Fritz Farrow, Molly Nagle, and Oren Oppenheim.
