Months after the debate over reproductive rights in America was declared settled by former President Donald Trump, he still finds himself grappling with the complexities of the new era of post-Roe politics that he played a significant role in shaping. Trump's unease was on full display on Thursday, as he faced backlash from religious conservatives for his attempts to evade questions about a crucial Florida referendum that will determine the future of abortion access in his home state.

In a statement issued by his campaign, Trump clarified that he had not taken a stance on the Florida referendum, despite angering religious conservatives with his inartful response. As the former president toured a Michigan warehouse, he unexpectedly shifted his focus from manufacturing to offering women a new incentive to vote for him: a promise for universal coverage of in vitro fertilization if he were to be reelected. However, this proposal contradicted the recent defeat of a similar bill with IVF provisions by senators from his own Republican party, including his running mate, JD Vance.

Trump's stance on reproductive health has undergone numerous changes over time, and he has expressed concerns about the political repercussions following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to end the constitutional right to an abortion. Despite claiming credit for appointing three conservative justices who contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Trump has recently stated that questions regarding access to abortion should be left to the states. However, this view has only fueled further debate, leaving Trump struggling to appease activists within his party and a general electorate that remains deeply concerned about abortion access in many Republican-led states.

A recent survey conducted by Quinnipiac University revealed that 55% of voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris is better equipped to address the issue of abortion, compared to 38% who favored Trump. Furthermore, a CBS News poll conducted by YouGov found that nearly 7 in 10 voters focused on abortion favored Harris over Trump. Democrats have capitalized on this sentiment and are actively emphasizing abortion rights, with the Democratic National Convention featuring emotional stories of women facing barriers to essential care during their pregnancies. In response, Harris' campaign has launched a 50-stop bus tour focused on reproductive health care, starting in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump's proposal to mandate universal IVF coverage faced immediate criticism from Harris' campaign, which pointed out that the Republican platform, largely influenced by Trump, includes provisions supporting personhood legislation that could potentially impede IVF procedures. The GOP's recent platform suggests granting 14th Amendment protections to life beginning at conception, making it difficult for some states to uphold IVF practices.

With the presidential race tightening in key battleground states, Trump appears to be challenging single-issue, anti-abortion voters to either support him or risk sitting out of the election. In a social media post, he claimed that his administration would be "great for women and their reproductive rights." JD Vance further reinforced this stance by stating that Trump, if elected, would veto a federal ban on abortion, even if one were to pass Congress. This marks a sharp reversal from Trump's past promise to enact national restrictions on abortion.

Religious conservatives, who previously accepted Trump's "states' rights" position as a pragmatic approach, have now expressed concerns about his wavering support for their cause. Anti-abortion advocates took issue with Vance's comments, indicating that failure to stand firmly for pro-life principles would result in losing their support. The conservative commentator, Erick Erickson, went as far as stating that Trump may have lost crucial support from the pro-life community due to his involvement in the Florida referendum debate.

The fallout from Trump's comments continued, with Vance stating that Trump would make an announcement soon regarding the Florida referendum. The former president's critics in Florida, including Governor Ron DeSantis, who opposes the referendum, wasted no time in responding to Trump's remarks. They labeled the proposed constitutional amendment as extreme and rallied support against it. DeSantis has already begun fundraising efforts to challenge the amendment, receiving significant financial support, including $100,000 from State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.

As the battle over reproductive rights intensifies, Trump finds himself entangled in a web of conflicting views and shifting political landscapes. His struggles to navigate post-Roe politics while attempting to secure support from anti-abortion voters and religious conservatives threaten to complicate his path to victory in critical battleground states. The Florida referendum, with its potential impact on abortion access, further adds to the challenge faced by the former president in appealing to voters who remain deeply invested in the issue.