During a speech to Republican members of the House of Representatives, President Trump was discussing plans for healthcare policy when he said that lawmakers have to be a little flexible on the Hyde Amendment, reports Associated Press. It’s a legislative provision which bans the use of federal funds for most abortions and has been in place for decades, being renewed annually.
"You have to be a little flexible," said Trump. "You have to work something. You have to use ingenuity. You got to work."
Since Trump’s statement, he has faced criticism from Republican leaders. Democrats are pushing for the Hyde restrictions to be removed from the healthcare subsidies, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) emphasized that any legislation will follow the amendment. According to Bloomberg Government, even House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) states that he will not allow the standard to be changed.
Bloomberg also reported that Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, recently issued a statement to clarify that Trump’s comment on “flexibility” was not issued to the Hyde Amendment. Rather, it was aimed at Republicans and Democrats to find a compromise regarding the healthcare subsidies. She emphasized that the administration did not change the policy and reminded that Trump signed the executive order that protects the amendment.
Still, pro-life groups were ready to go on the defense regarding Trump’s statement.
In a video posted on X, Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life said that President Trump is mistaken if he believes the pro-life movement is going to be fine with this approach.
"Any healthcare bill passed out of Congress that does not have Hyde attached to it is a pro-abortion vote," said Hawkins.
Lila Rose of Live Action issued a statement on X telling lawmakers that "if you sacrifice Hyde, you sacrifice innocent human children." She is adamant that Republicans make no exception or give an inch to this “flexibility” as it could open the door to taxpayer-funded abortion.
Carol Tobias of National Right to Life says that her organization would love for all members of Congress, but especially those who are pro-life, to understand the value of every human being and stand firm.
"Our tax dollars should not be promoting or performing abortions in any way," states Tobias. "People should be contacting their members of Congress, telling them and encouraging them to stand firm."
Tobias comments that she is praying that this comes to a very positive pro-life conclusion.
Kelsey Pritchard of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America says that it was a shock to hear that from the president.
"This is a complete departure for him, and this would be a complete departure for the Republican Party, which for decades has said this is a minimum standard that we have to support the Hyde amendment," says Pritchard. "To do that is not only wrong, but also politically unwise to be saying that kind of things ahead of the mid-terms. If Republicans really go this route, they'll depress their base and hurt their chances of winning in November."
Pritchard says that "Republicans cannot win without the pro-life base." In fact, if one to two percent of pro-lifers stayed home and did not vote in 2024, Pritchard said that Kamala Harris would be in the White House.
"It's very crucial that Republicans do not ignore the pro-life base and also that they just do the bare minimum kinds of things, like support the Hyde Amendment and protect the American taxpayer from the forced funding of abortions," states Pritchard.
The "flexible" remark might be mentioned at the upcoming March for Life in Washington, D.C. It is scheduled for Friday, January 23rd and will once again include speeches from legislators and pro-life activists.
This year's theme is "Life is a Gift,” and Pritchard agrees.
"This is a time when we renew our commitment for life and when we can be energized for the fight that is ahead this year, in the mid-terms that's coming up in the presidential election, and the hard conversations that we have to have with our Republican officials in Washington D.C., on the Hill and in the White House,” says Pritchard.
The conversation being, she states, that the right to life needs to continue to be a focus because it is the most important right in the U.S.
June 24th, 2026 will mark four years since the Dobbs case that led to the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
