Abortion laws: Trump speaks out on rape, incest cases

President Trump. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

President Trump declared himself "strongly pro-life" in a series of tweets Saturday night — but he made clear he's opposed to key elements of strict new abortion laws as he called for Republican unity on the issue.

I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions — Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother — the same position taken by Ronald Reagan."

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Driving the news: Many 2020 hopefuls have publicly opposed Missouri's and Alabama's strict new abortion laws, including Trump's only major GOP primary challenger, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld.

The big picture: This is the first time Trump has addressed the conservative drive to overhaul abortion laws, which seeks to eventually challenge protections that have existed at a federal level since Roe v. Wade in 1973. In his tweets, Trump said "we have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new Federal judges."

"If we are foolish and do not stay UNITED as one, all of our hard fought gains for Life can, and will, rapidly disappear!"

Trump, Twitter, May 18

Go deeper:

• State abortion restrictions spark a renewed culture war
• Some states rush to protect abortion as Roe v. Wade fight heats up
• Where abortion restriction stands: The states that have passed laws