Ron DeSantis slams Donald Trump as soft on abortion

DeSantis CBN
'I thought he would compliment the fact that we were able to do the Heartbeat Bill.'

Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking his case against former President Donald Trump to evangelical voters, with the state’s six-week abortion ban taking center stage.

Asked by David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network if he thought Trump was “soft” on abortion, given his framing of the Heartbeat Protection Act (SB 300) as “too harsh,” DeSantis exploited the opening in an interview airing Friday on the “700 Club.”

“I think so. I mean, I was really surprised because he’s a Florida resident and I thought he would compliment the fact, you know, that we were able to do the heartbeat bill, which pro-lifers have wanted for a long time. He never complimented, never said anything about it,” DeSantis recounted.

“Then he was asked about it and he said it was ‘harsh’. But, you know, these are, these are children with detectable heartbeats. And I think to do that was very humane and I think it was something that every pro lifer appreciates that we were able to get that done.”

DeSantis also noted that though he appreciates “what the former president has done in a variety of realms, he opposes that bill.”

“He said it was ‘harsh’ to protect an unborn child when there’s a detectable heartbeat,” DeSantis said, describing the bill as “good pro life protections, whether it’s Florida or Iowa under Kim Reynolds.”

Trump contended that DeSantis was “losing women voters like crazy” and “has a big problem with women voters” because the law was “too harsh.” DeSantis’ super PAC has bought ads spotlighting the former President’s equivocation on the issue.

Interestingly, DeSantis seems to have a states’ rights position on this issue, based on what he said in a previous interview.

During a May 25 appearance on “Fox News Tonight,” DeSantis said that after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, “there’s a role for both the federal (government) and states” to play going forward.

But without clearly laying out what that federal role may or may not be, he implied that states should primarily handle the issue.

“I think at the end of the day, fighting for life and protecting life really is a bottom up movement. I think we’ve been able to have great successes at the local level,” DeSantis told interviewer Trey Gowdy.

The Governor’s fear, now that he is running for President officially, is that Democrats could federalize abortion protections.

“I am concerned about a Democratic administration with a trifecta trying to nationalize abortion all the way up until birth,” DeSantis continued.

The Governor seemed to accept that some liberal bastions will not offer severe restrictions on the procedure, thus creating abortion destination jurisdictions.

“I think that there’s just a practical reality that the country is divided on the issue. And so the question is, you know, how are you going to be able to save, you know, more lives?” DeSantis said.

“Some of this is a matter of strategy, some of it is a matter of, you know, what could you do to be able to advance the ball forward?” he added. “Clearly in California, you know, you are going to have very, very hostile views.”

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


16 comments

  • Christians Are Terrorists

    June 16, 2023 at 5:20 am

    Wow Casey doesn’t want this after all…Christian losers want to control your daughter’s vagina.

    • Mark

      June 16, 2023 at 5:39 am

      She’s too busy ordering from the Jackie-O Collection for the inevitable……….lawn sale, 700 N Adams St, Tallahassee, FL 32303, on November 4th, 2026.

      Also, don’t say v—– around Christian cnservatives. It gives them the vapors.

  • Tom

    June 16, 2023 at 7:27 am

    And this is why trump will win the primary. This culture war stuff doesn’t solve anything, doesn’t help anyone and just pisses people off whether they agree or disagree. trump is smart to stay away from it (like social security and medicare).

  • Dont Say FLA

    June 16, 2023 at 8:17 am

    Dear GOP types, Jerry Falwell dead. You can stop now.

  • Veep Rhonda

    June 16, 2023 at 8:21 am

    Rhonda is in second place. Rhonda will never improve from second place. Rhonda thinks maybe he can be Veep. Rhonda is wrong. As usual.

  • Earl Pitts American

    June 16, 2023 at 8:39 am

    Good morning America,
    A review of the dook 4 brains commenters above indicates they are fully aware Trump’s support of killing babies may elevate the RNC to foil leftist desire to run against Trump and nominate Desantis in the left’s worst nightmare.
    The left’s only shot at retaining the White House is to run against Trump.
    If you are a dook 4 brains RINO, INDEPENDANT, NPA, ect….and you dont agree with what I, Earl Pitts American, just told you about why the left MUST run against Trump and NOT Desantis then God help us all.
    Thank you America,
    Earl Pitts American

    • Ocean Joe

      June 16, 2023 at 8:58 am

      The only Republican that could beat Biden at this point looks to be Asa Hutchinson, who will never win a primary.

      Earl, go back to the well and fetch a bucket of something a majority can drink instead of festering over the guy who wants to convert the state into a church and restart the inquisition.

      • Earl Pitts American

        June 16, 2023 at 9:22 am

        Thanks OJ,
        Do you think there is any hope of getting a rainbow of Democratic contenders as “Also Running” against Biden?
        Imagine the ratings we could garner for The Democratic Debates if we jam the stage with Trans, Unicorns, Drag Queens, Groomers, and of course our Darling Elizabeth Warren.
        And what about Bernie is he too old to trot back out on the Debate Stage. Plus I heard a little something something about Hillary teaming up with Rue Paul for the win.
        No I dont think AOC and those Muzzy girls on The Squad would be entertaining at all, and would cause the Debate ratings to plumet, for the time they would be speaking. AOC and the Muzzy Girls on The Squad would be a total non-starter.
        Remember OJ, regardless of anyone’s “feelings” a great Democratic Debate Show lineup will generate interest, ratings, and of course money – big money. And big money is the foundation our Great Nation was built upon.
        Thanks A Lot OJ,
        Earl Pitts “Showman” American

  • Michael K

    June 16, 2023 at 9:14 am

    DeSantis is not “pro-life,” he’s “forced birth.” He’s earned the nickname DeathSentence through his policies, actions, and lack of compassion. I’m beginning to think he’s just an AI bot programmed to be “anti-woke,” whatever that is.

    • Earl Pitts American

      June 16, 2023 at 9:35 am

      Michael,
      I have not released this to the public yet but I’m going to put the true word in your ear because I like you.
      AI is not what your media sources have told you.
      No Sir not at all.
      All AI is going to be used for is to speak to the public in Joe Biden’s voice while flawlessly controlling Joe’s mouth movements to match his words. We are still having a prob with moving Joe’s mouth correctly.
      Thanks Michael glad to provide you the 411 and scientific technology side of AI.
      Basically everything you heard about AI prior to me, Earl Pitts American, giving you the truth is total rubbish.
      EPA

      • TJC

        June 16, 2023 at 1:32 pm

        Earl, you truly are an American Treasure. Your embodiment of everything that is today’s Republican Party is near to perfection. You should be on the stage at the upcoming GOP debates to provide the unadulterated insanity the Party richly deserves and apparently craves, but I guess we’ll just have to settle for the usual Trump or DeSantis fare. What a pity.

    • Cheesy Floridan

      June 16, 2023 at 10:38 am

      Maybe he also earned that nickname from his time spent in guantanamo bay

  • Cheesy Floridan

    June 16, 2023 at 10:37 am

    It is “too harsh” and cruel and not freedom at all. There is no HEART at the 6 week bench mark in a pregnancy so there is no heartbeat. If he and his lackeys listened to DOCTORS that treat pregnant patients then he and his lackeys would understand why this is too harsh. If he listened to doctors and medical advice then he would understand why even the 15 week abortion ban is to harsh. If he read any of the heartbreaking stories written since the fall of Roe then maybe he would understand. But Ron Desantis doesn’t care about anyone but his own ass. And he will never ever understand what it is like to be pregnant or to be pregnant without help or money. He says florida is free however he takes away a womens right to choose and a doctors right to practice the standard of care to pregnant people in the state of Florida.

  • PeterH

    June 16, 2023 at 11:50 am

    Let’s remember that yesterday’s poll showed that 5 out of 6 Republican female voters WERE NOT VOTING FOR RON DESANTIS!

  • PeterH

    June 17, 2023 at 4:00 pm

    Three Florida Men are betting that they can be the cruelest crusader on the 2024 Republican Klown Kar! Ask these three Klowns how they would respond if they had the vagina!

    Republicans are America’s biggest problem!

    Vote all Republicans out of office!

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