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Southern Baptist leader Albert Mohler, a long-standing figure in conservative Christian politics, has raised concerns that former President Donald Trump's recent positions on issues like abortion and in vitro fertilization (IVF) could weaken his support among evangelicals.
In an interview on The New York Times podcast The Run-Up, Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, warned that Trump's inconsistent stances might push conservative Christian voters to either stay home or reconsider their choices in November.
"Trump is basically daring the pro-life movement to turn on him," Mohler said, referencing Trump's comments on Truth Social, where he boasted about his administration being "great for women and their reproductive rights."
Mohler's criticism is rooted in Trump's wavering position on abortion, with the Republican presidential candidate saying on repeated occasions during his campaign that abortion is no longer a "big factor" in elections and that he believes it will end up being "a very small issue" in this year's vote.
Going further, Trump recently criticized Florida's six-week abortion ban, calling it "too short" and suggesting that more time should be allowed before restricting abortion access, igniting the fury of the anti-abortion movement advocates.
Trump later reversed his stance, but the damage to his reputation among staunch anti-abortion advocates like Mohler had already been done.
"I have no idea what Donald Trump really believes about abortion, "Mohler said, underscoring his frustration with Trump's unpredictability.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a momentous victory for the anti-abortion movement. However, Mohler's primary concern is that Trump's recent statements reflect an unstable commitment to conservative values, particularly on abortion.
He noted that while Trump remains categorically different from Democratic candidates like Kamala Harris on the issue, his softened stance could alienate the voters who propelled him to victory in 2016.
"Donald Trump is either gonna win or lose this election. And I think it'll, in large part, be on this question in terms of the intensity with which conservative voters, pro-life voters either vote for him or don't. And that's my warning," Mohler said.
'Trump has not connected the dots on IVF'
Another issue troubling Mohler is Trump's stance on IVF. In recent statements, Trump suggested that his administration would mandate insurance coverage for IVF, alarming social conservatives who view the destruction of human embryos in the IVF process as a moral issue.
Mohler, who has long written and spoken about IVF within evangelical circles, expressed his dismay over Trump's comments, arguing that, like many voters, the former president has "not connected the dots."
"I don't think he understands all that is involved there," Mohler said, adding that Trump's comments reflect "disorganization" rather than premeditation.
For Mohler, these missteps signify a deeper problem within Trump's campaign: a failure to connect with the evangelical movement's core beliefs.
"Trump is in grave danger," Mohler warned, suggesting that without overwhelming support from anti-abortion voters, Trump's path to victory may be jeopardized.
Despite his critiques, Mohler stopped short of saying he would vote against Trump. He described the dilemma facing evangelical voters as choosing the "lesser of two evils," a familiar refrain in conservative Christian politics.
Mohler noted that many evangelicals feel they have no choice but to back Trump over a Democratic candidate like Kamala Harris, whose support for abortion rights is very straightforward.
"I believe nothing less than the sacredness and dignity of human life is at stake," Mohler said, highlighting the moral and political calculus many evangelicals will face in the 2024 election.
However, Mohler also acknowledged that younger evangelical voters, particularly those between 18 and 30, show far less enthusiasm for Trump than in previous election cycles.
"I hear far, far less excitement about a Donald Trump campaign," he noted, adding that this lack of enthusiasm could signal trouble for Trump's reelection bid.
A Newsweek analysis of campaign contributions suggests MAGA pastors are not donating to his 2024 run, while thousands signed a Christian petition vowing not to vote for him, suggesting he may be losing support among a key base.
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About the writer
Jesus is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, his focus is reporting on politics, current ... Read more