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Inside the Rapid-Response Machine Ready for Trump’s Abortion Pivot

Activist groups, Democratic campaigns and the people at the highest levels of the Biden campaign immediately activated when Trump released his statement on abortion last week.

Biden Restore Roe
The Trump announcement showcased the speed and power of the abortion rights movement’s national messaging prowess. Susan Walsh/AP

No matter where former President Donald Trump and Republicans tried to turn last week, abortion rights advocates were ready.

Sources — including activist groups, Democratic campaigns on the ground and the people at the highest levels of the Biden campaign — told NOTUS that in the nearly two years since the Dobbs decision, the machine built to protect and expand the right to an abortion has unified into one of the most powerful rapid-response engines in American politics.

At 6:57 a.m. last Monday, Trump posted his video officially punting on a federal abortion ban and said he supported leaving abortion up to individual states. More than one activist told NOTUS they didn’t even have to watch the video before activating response plans.