Donald Trump is rarely cautious. But on the issue of abortion, the MAGA leader is attempting to tread carefully.  On Monday, the presumptive nominee posted a video on his social media platform, Truth Social, declaring that abortion laws should be state by state. As he explained, “Many states will be different. Many will have a different number of weeks or some will have more conservative than others and that’s what they will be.” Trump’s political punt belies critics who accuse him of being an aspiring authoritarian.

On his own side of the political ring, Trump is taking hits. One leading pro-life group is deeply disappointed in Trump’s alleged capitulation to “the Democrats who are working relentlessly to enact legislation mandating abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy.” South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham has opined that the “pro-life movement has always been about the wellbeing of the unborn child – not geography.” But for Trump, it’s about November: “Many Good Republicans lost Elections because of this Issue, and people like Lindsey Graham, that are unrelenting, are handing Democrats their dream of the House, Senate, and perhaps even the Presidency.”

Democrats are working strenuously to convince voters that Trump, who called Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ six-week ban “a terrible mistake,” is eager to sign a national abortion ban. The more relevant question is will pro-life voters support a candidate who won’t?