Lindsey Graham rejects Trump's abortion stance, backs 15-week ban

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham on Monday dissenting from former President Donald Trump's call to largely leave the issue of abortion to the states, instead calling for a national 15-week abortion ban.

Trump on Monday released a video outlining his stance on abortion in which he signaled that he felt the issue was a matter of states rights and endorsed a handful of exceptions to abortion bans. He further confirmed his support for protecting access to In Vitro Fertilization.

"I respectfully disagree with President Trump’s statement that abortion is a states' rights issue. Dobbs does not require that conclusion legally and the pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography," he posted on X. "The states' rights only rationale today runs contrary to an American consensus that would limit late-term abortions and will age about as well as the Dred Scott decision. The science is clear – a child at fifteen weeks is well-developed and is capable of feeling pain."

"I will continue to advocate that there should be a national minimum standard limiting abortion at fifteen weeks because the child is capable of feeling pain, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother," he added. 

Graham went on to announce that he would further introduce legislation to require that providers of abortion administer anesthesia to the child at 15 weeks, citing the ability of the fetus to feel pain.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.