In a series of surprising statements, former President Donald Trump has shifted the conversation about the pro-life issue within the conservative movement, declaring his administration would support abortion. On August 23, 2024, he posted on Truth Social, “My administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.” Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, stated in an interview that Trump would veto a national abortion ban. A few days later, when questioned about Florida’s upcoming ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution, Trump told NBC News, “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,” implying that he would support the initiative.
These statements ignited a firestorm among conservative and Christian circles. Many criticized the former president for compromising on the pro-life issue. Others defended him for his prudent messaging in order to win the election. Perhaps in response to the backlash, Trump quickly reversed his stance on the Florida ballot initiative. During the debate against Vice-President Kamala Harris on September 10, he neglected to say outright that he would veto a federal abortion ban.
The Trump campaign’s rhetoric on abortion and the resulting controversy highlights a crucial tension that conservatives and Christians have consistently wrestled with in politics—should we favor principles or pragmatism?
For the principled man in politics, sources such as the Bible, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution are the primary standards on which his or her worldview is based. A principlist has strong convictions and clearly defined core values which he or she works hard to fight for in the public square. Additionally, a principlist will stand for what is right and boldly proclaim the truth regardless of the outcome. Abolitionists in the pro-life movement are perfect examples of people who lean heavily on principle. As the name suggests, they advocate for the total abolition of abortion in America, to the point that they oppose any incremental legislation–heartbeat bills, 15-week bans, etc–because these laws would not prevent all of the murder of unborn babies. Abolitionists are no doubt furious at Trump and Vance’s recent statements on abortion, and some will likely withhold their vote from the campaign this November because of what they perceive as compromise on such a fundamental issue.
Unlike the principlist, the pragmatist emphasizes practical reality and results more. Pragmatists take the words of Otto Von Bismarck to heart, “Politics is the art of the possible, the art of the next best.” Recognizing that politics inevitably requires negotiation and some compromise, they do not allow the perfect to become the enemy of the good. Going back to the pro-life issue, a pragmatist may have the same convictions as an abolitionist but would have a different legislative approach that is more incremental. Instead of immediately trying to eradicate all abortions, he or she may start with a more politically viable option, such as a 15-week abortion ban that still allows exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. From there, the pragmatist would progressively work towards restricting abortion earlier and earlier. In his or her rhetoric, a pragmatic candidate may use more vague and moderate language in order to appeal to broader swaths of the public and gain electoral office, similar to what Trump and Vance have done regarding abortion. It is important to note that while everyone is naturally inclined towards being more principled or pragmatic, most have a mix of the two. And either extreme is problematic.
On one hand, solely standing on principle can make someone legalistic, narrow-minded, and inflexible. In their efforts to remain uncompromising on their convictions, they can become extremely difficult to cooperate with and may prevent any substantive action from taking place because it does not lead to the perfect result. That is the danger of the abolitionist stance on abortion; it seeks to stifle efforts that would probably lead to at least some if not many, lives saved. Purely principled thinking and messaging would not bode well electorally in a society that is continuing to oppose Christian and conservative values. On the other hand, pragmatists can become so focused on gaining power and achieving legislative results that they adopt a consequentialist mentality. They may resort to using questionable means–such as lying and manipulation–to achieve a just outcome. And if pragmatists are not careful, they can compromise to the point that they become completely unprincipled, throwing away their convictions for political popularity or expediency.
What, then, should we do? Jesus offers us some timeless insight in Matthew 10:16 (ESV), “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Our Lord and Savior told these words to his twelve disciples as he sent them out to proclaim the Gospel and perform miracles in a hostile world. His instruction is absolutely applicable to believers and conservatives in the political realm. Like serpents, we have to learn how to use wisdom, prudence, and even shrewdness when the circumstances call for it, but like doves, we are to simultaneously maintain our purity, righteousness, and convictions. Practically, this looks like articulating our positions in a way that is understandable and relatable to the general public without using excessive conservative or Christian “jargon.” It has the resourcefulness to know what political or legislative levers you can leverage to advance our policies. Understanding how to work with what is politically viable and accept progress toward an ultimate goal is also important.
In sum, we have to be principled pragmatists. Politics is a complex and challenging realm to navigate, but with wisdom and divine guidance, balancing the tension between principles and pragmatism can be done.
