The Associated Press has analyzed and found that numerous individuals nominated by President Donald Trump for federal court positions have expressed anti-abortion sentiments, associated with anti-abortion organizations, or supported abortion limitations.

Many of these nominees have participated in defending their state’s abortion laws in court, with some cases having significant national ramifications, such as those affecting access to abortion medications.

Even though Trump has expressed that abortion-related issues should be resolved at the state level, the judges he nominates, who receive lifelong appointments, could potentially limit abortion rights long after his presidency.

Trump has been inconsistent on abortion

Trump has repeatedly shifted his messaging on abortion, often giving contradictory or vague answers.

Prior to his latest presidential campaign, Trump indicated support for a federal prohibition on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and considered backing a national ban around 15 weeks. Eventually, he advocated for states’ rights to decide abortion access.

Throughout his campaign journey, Trump has fluctuated between taking pride in appointing Supreme Court justices who contributed to overturning Roe v. Wade and adopting a more balanced stance. This approach attempts to reconcile the political tension between his anti-abortion support base and the general populace, which largely favors abortion access.

Many nominees have anti-abortion backgrounds

One of Trump’s candidates described abortion as a “barbaric practice,” while another identified as a “zealot” for the anti-abortion cause. A nominee from Tennessee remarked that abortion requires particular consideration since it is “the only medical procedure that terminates a life.”

One from Missouri spread misinformation about medication abortion, including that it “starves the baby to death in the womb” in a lawsuit aiming to challenge the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone.

Legal experts and abortion rights advocates warn of a methodical remaking of the federal courts in a way that could pose enduring threats to abortion access nationwide.

Bernadette Meyler, a professor of constitutional law at Stanford University, said judicial appointments “are a way of federally shaping the abortion question without going through Congress or making a big, explicit statement.”

“It’s a way to cover up a little bit what is happening in the abortion sphere compared to legislation or executive orders that may be more visible, dramatic and spark more backlash,” she said.

The nominees represent Trump’s ‘promises’ to Americans, White House says

Harrison Fields, a White House spokesperson, said “every nominee of the President represents his promises to the American people and aligns with the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling.”

“The Democrats’ extreme position on abortion was rejected in November in favor of President Trump’s commonsense approach, which allows states to decide, supports the sanctity of human life, and prevents taxpayer funding of abortion,” Fields said in a statement to the AP.

Trump focused primarily on the economy and immigration during his 2024 campaign, the issues that surveys showed were the most important topics for voters.

Anti-abortion groups, abortion rights advocates respond

Anti-abortion advocates say it’s premature to determine whether the nominees will support their objectives but that they’re hopeful based on the names put forth so far.

“We look forward to four more years of nominees cut from that mold,” said Katie Glenn Daniel, director of legal affairs for the national anti-abortion organization SBA Pro-Life America.

Abortion rights advocates said Trump is embedding abortion opponents into the judiciary one judge at a time

“This just feeds into this larger strategy where Trump has gotten away with distancing himself from abortion, saying he’s going to leave it to the states, while simultaneously appointing anti-abortion extremists at all levels of government,” said Mini Timmaraju, president of the national abortion rights organization Reproductive Freedom for All.