Former President Donald Trump has faced backlash from conservatives after criticizing the six-week abortion ban signed by his Republican opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. During an interview on MSNBC's "Meet the Press," Trump was questioned about his stance on abortion as the 2024 presidential election approaches. As the frontrunner in the GOP primary, Trump stated that he would work with Democrats to pass abortion legislation and criticized DeSantis' six-week ban in Florida.

Trump suggested that a number of weeks or months could be determined to make both sides happy, referencing the fact that 92 percent of Democrats do not support abortion after a certain period of time. When asked if he would sign a 15-week federal abortion ban, Trump said he would negotiate with both sides and seek peace on the issue, without explicitly stating his position.

Conservatives criticized Trump for his comments, with some saying that compromising on abortion would not win him the support of abortion advocates. Pro-life activists expressed disappointment in Trump's willingness to compromise on pro-life laws and called for him to remain steadfast in his stance.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, the President of SBA Pro-Life America, thanked Governor DeSantis for signing the Heartbeat Protection Act into law and indirectly responded to Trump's comments by emphasizing the importance of a candidate who is dedicated to saving lives and serving mothers in need.

Trump's critique of DeSantis comes as he seeks a third candidacy for the presidency, competing against DeSantis and a range of other GOP and Democratic candidates. DeSantis, who currently holds the number two position in the GOP primary, is trying to close the gap with Trump while also facing competition from former Vice President Mike Pence, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Trump's criticism of DeSantis and his support for abortion legislation have raised concerns among socially conservative Republican primary voters, particularly in Iowa where evangelicals play a significant role. Trump's discomfort with the abortion issue has been apparent since the repeal of Roe v. Wade, and he has avoided taking a clear position on a federal ban on most abortions at 15 weeks.

Having appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, Trump's role in overturning Roe v. Wade is expected to be a focus for Democrats in the 2024 general election if he becomes the nominee. Furthermore, the fact that other Republican governors, such as Iowa's Kim Reynolds, have signed similar abortion bans adds to the perception that Trump is attacking Republicans from the left.

Trump's advisers are aware that abortion was detrimental to Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections, and Trump himself expressed concerns about the electoral impact of overturning Roe. In an effort to appeal to a broader base of voters, Trump has taken a more moderate approach, positioning himself as a mediator on the issue and stating that he doesn't care whether a ban is implemented at the state or federal level.

However, critics argue that compromising on abortion would be a mistake and that the sanctity of life should be the central focus of American law. Former Vice President Mike Pence, known for his strong anti-abortion stance, condemned Trump's comments and emphasized that there is no room for negotiation when it comes to the life of the unborn.

Overall, Trump's criticism of DeSantis and his ambiguous stance on abortion have sparked controversy among conservatives, raising questions about his commitment to the pro-life cause and potentially alienating socially conservative Republican primary voters.