Hochul Accuses Trump of 'Attacking' Reproductive Rights, Citing Threat to Women's Healthcare

Albany, NY – New York Governor Kathy Hochul strongly criticized former President Donald Trump and Republicans on May 16, 2024, asserting that they are "attacking" reproductive rights and women's healthcare. Speaking at a Planned Parenthood event in Albany, Governor Hochul declared, "Right now our city and our state and our country are under attack by Donald Trump." She further stated that Trump and his allies "don't give a damn about women and their health care and their rights to an abortion," as reported by multiple news outlets.

Governor Hochul's remarks underscore a significant political divide, positioning reproductive rights as a central issue in upcoming elections. Her comments align with broader Democratic efforts to rally voters following the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade, which eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion. New York maintains robust protections for abortion access, having codified abortion rights into state law, allowing abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy and later if the patient's life or health is at risk.

Donald Trump has often taken credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, stating last year that he was the "guy [who] ended Roe v. Wade." Recent reports from organizations like the ACLU indicate that a second Trump administration could seek to further restrict abortion access nationwide. This includes potential enforcement of the 1873 Comstock Act to effectively ban abortion across states and efforts to eliminate medication abortion by rescinding FDA approval for drugs like mifepristone.

Trump's past statements, including a 2016 assertion that "there has to be some form of punishment" for women who obtain abortions if the procedure is outlawed, continue to fuel concerns among reproductive rights advocates. While Trump has sometimes equivocated on a national abortion ban, his administration's actions, such as reinstating policies that ban foreign aid workers from offering abortion information and cutting Medicaid funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood, reflect a consistent stance against abortion access. The ongoing debate highlights the stark contrast in approaches to reproductive healthcare between the two political factions.