Opinion | Don't be fooled by Trump's latest gaslighting on abortion

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

65% : The GOP remains a party of anti-abortion radicals, and no document is going to change that.
50% : But no one should forget that Trump has bragged about how "pro-life" his presidency was, particularly his crucial role in appointing three justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
49% : Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, in particular, has used his radio show and news site to promote the view touted by himself and other Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, among others, that Trump has unacceptably "watered down" the party's position.
48% : Trump's gaslighting comes amid his base's march to transform America into a dystopia governed by anti-abortion fanatics, eager to impose their will in hospitals, doctor's offices and bedrooms.
45% : The new paragraph, however, is a characteristically Trumpian obfuscation, an attempt to please his base and confuse other voters who might have heard claims over the past several months that Trump, supposedly bucking his base, is resistant to a national abortion ban.
37% : In the meantime, criticism from Perkins and others also helps Trump to position himself, preposterously, as bucking his extreme supporters.
31% : "Perkins' persistence signals that the leaders of the Christian right will not tolerate the party going soft on abortion, and that if Trump regains power they will use their clout within the party to push for the most draconian abortion bans and restrictions possible.
25% : Trump knows his party's quest to outlaw abortion nationwide is wildly unpopular and a potentially devastating drag on his ability to attract voters beyond his MAGA base.
24% : (The odd capitalization reflects, as has been reported, that Trump personally edited the document.)

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