Rattled Trump's abortion U-turn after Right threat

DONALD Trump has been forced to roll back on pro-abortion views after the powerful Christian Right threatened to abandon him, leading to almost certain defeat in November’s presidential elections.

- Marco Giannangeli

The former US leader caused consternation among conservative supporters after backing moves last week to extend the time limit after which abortions would become illegal in his home state of Florida.

“If Trump loses the election, he can look to this day for the reason why,” said a furious Republican insider last night.

Mr Trump is known to have liberal views on the controversial issue.

Yet Christian Right-wingers set aside their qualms in 2016 to back him, in the hope his administration would lay the foundation for outlawing abortion.

In the short term it paid off, with the Supreme Court overturning the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling which had granted women the right to a termination up until the point of foetal viability, which is about 24 weeks.