Donald Trump Explains Conversion to Pro-Life Side on Abortion

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Apr 8, 2011   |   10:38AM   |   Washington, DC

Business mogul Donald Trump shocked attendees at the conservative CPAC conference in February when he declared himself pro-life after years of supporting the pro-abortion position.

Several months ago, when questioned about his position, Trump responded by saying the public “would be surprised” by his stance and, in an interview with Laura Ingraham from Fox News leading up to the conference, Trump characterized himself as “pro-life” and he repeated that apparent reversal when he told the audience at CPAC, “I am pro-life” and pledged to fight for the reversal of Obamacare, which contains abortion funding loopholes.

That was a marked change from how Trump described himself in his  2000 book The America We Deserve, where he wrote, “I support a woman’s right to choose but I am uncomfortable with the procedures.”

Today, in a new interview with CBN News’ David Brody, Trump explains the evolution of his thinking and how stories of pregnancies — including one in particular — helped change his mind on abortion.

“Evangelicals do want to feel secure that they’re going to have a nominee that’s going to at least be solid on those issues, those social issues. Someone that’s not just going to cut and move on,” Brody said to Trump.

The billionaire responded, “One thing about me, I’m a very honorable guy. I’m pro-life, but I changed my view a number of years ago.”

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“One of the reasons I changed — one of the primary reasons — a friend of mine’s wife was pregnant, in this case married. She was pregnant and he didn’t really want the baby. And he was telling me the story,” Trump told Brody. “He was crying as he was telling me the story. He ends up having the baby and the baby is the apple of his eye. It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened to him. And you know here’s a baby that wasn’t going to be let into life. And I heard this, and some other stories, and I am pro-life.”

“So those stories did change you, they came around and changed you?” Brody asked.

“They changed me. Yeah, they changed my view as to that, absolutely,” Trump responded.

As the 2012 race intensifies, pro-life advocates must call upon Donald Trump to further explain his stand on important pro-life issues like Supreme Court nominations and repeal of the pro-abortion Obama healthcare law. A year away from the first primary contests, some Republicans are dissatisfied with the current list of potential presidential candidates. With no clear front-runner at this point, a candidacy by Donald Trump could be appealing for some.

Yet, some pro-life advocates are strongly supportive of some of the truly pro-life potential Republican presidential hopefuls. Stalwarts like Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee have significant support among GOP and independent voters. Lesser-known, but equally pro-life, likely candidates like Governor Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Herman Cain are also strongly pro-life. Others, like Haley Barbor of Mississippi, Jon Huntsman of Utah, and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, would run as pro-life candidates as well.

The eventual nominee will face pro-abortion President Barack Obama, who has an extensive pro-abortion record.