THE Donald Trumpfront-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has said privately that he favors a nationwide ban on abortion after the 16th week of pregnancy, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life, the the New York Times yesterday, citing two sources.

The stance would mark a major shift, as Trump has for years avoided speaking out clearly on the divisive abortion issue in the US and has refused to support a nationwide ban.

Democratic President Joe Biden, Trump’s opponent in the November presidential election, immediately seized the opportunity to say that the Republican is “running to take away your rights.”

Reuters has not yet confirmed the Times article, which the Trump campaign called “false.”

“As Trump has stated, he will sit down with both sides and negotiate an agreement that everyone is happy with,” Carolyn Leavitt, Trump’s spokeswoman, said without providing further details.

A source told NBC News that Mr Trump “hasn’t made up his mind” to impose a nationwide ban on abortion.

Abortion rights will dominate this year’s presidential campaign and could prove to be a disadvantage for Trump and Republicans.

Biden’s campaign is pressing the issue in an effort to rally women in bipartisan states, stressing that access to abortion is an issue of individual liberty that Trump and Republicans want to take away from women.

For their part, Republicans need to rally their conservative base, but as Biden and Trump are expected to go head-to-head, they are careful not to alienate independent voters and suburban women, who polls show they oppose strict restrictions on abortion.

Republican strategist David Koehl said there was “nothing positive” about Trump turning his campaign into a referendum on abortion.

“I think any time we talk about abortion, instead of borders and the economy, we’re losing,” he explained.

The Republican has so far maintained an ambiguous stance. He took credit for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, which recognized women’s constitutional right to abortion in the US, thanks to a majority held there by conservative justices, many of whom he appointed when he was president. At the same time, however, he criticized Republican states that imposed bans on abortions after the 6th week of pregnancy, calling it a “mistake”.

He also blamed the Republican party’s electoral defeats after June 2022 – when the Supreme Court’s decision was issued – on Republican positions on abortion.

The Times reported that Trump does not yet want to publicly express his views on the issue to avoid alienating more conservatives, who want stricter restrictions or a complete ban on abortion, until he wins the Republican presidential nomination.

But the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which had criticized Trump’s claims last year that the Supreme Court was right to let the states decide on the issue of abortion, yesterday welcomed his alleged opinion.

“We fully agree with President Trump on protecting babies from the violence of abortion at 16 weeks,” said president Marjorie Dannenfelser.