Donald Trump Jr. wanted Republicans to ‘drop’ pro-life fight in 2012

Donald Trump Jr. has flip-flopped on abortion.

The vocal son of former President Donald Trump — who now serves in a key advisory role to his father — told commentator Dave Rubin in 2012 that Republicans should give up their anti-abortion fight.

“I don’t understand how you can tell someone what they can or can’t do,” Trump Jr. told Rubin during an appearance on the conservative host’s former podcast.

“I can’t buy into the abortion argument,” he added. “I wish the Republicans would drop it as part of their platform.”

“Abortion, I don’t get it. I don’t even understand how it’s a political issue,” Trump Jr. went on. “I don’t understand how there’s one-issue voters for that.”

The comments have resurfaced after the elder Trump, 76, attacked his potential 2024 Republican primary rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, on the issue in recent days.

Notably, the former president panned Florida’s new law banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, telling The Messenger in an interview published Monday that “many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh.”

DeSantis fired back Tuesday, saying: “Protecting an unborn child when there is a detectable heartbeat is something that probably 99% of pro-lifers support.”

“I think that as a Florida resident, you know, he didn’t give an answer about, ‘Would you have signed the heartbeat bill that Florida did?’ It had all the exceptions that people talk about. The legislature put it in. I signed the bill. I was proud to do it. He won’t answer whether he would sign it or not,” the governor added.

Trump Jr., meanwhile, has changed his tune from the 2012 interview, tweeting pro-life statements and taking particular aim at late-term abortions.

“Abortion supporters are doing everything in their power to end preborn lives by advocating for abortion from the moment of conception UP UNTIL BIRTH!,” he wrote in January. “Wherever you are on the issue we can all agree that’s insane & way too far. Demand lawmakers protect life.”

A spokesperson for DeSantis declined to comment on the apparent change of heart.

Andy Surabian, a rep for the former first son, said Trump Jr.’s earlier views were influenced by his environment.

“Years before Don began engaging in politics, his views on abortion were largely shaped by his upbringing in liberal New York City, but no different than conservative heroes like Ronald Reagan and millions of other converts, he now proudly considers himself to be pro-life,” Surabian told The Post Wednesday.

“His perspective began to change after doctors urged him to abort one of his kids who showed early signs of Down Syndrome. The test turned out to be a false positive, and the experience made him question the practice.”

While some Republicans have argued that taking a hard line on abortion could become a political vulnerability, DeSantis has instead leaned into his position as a marker of his conservative bona fides.

While hitting the 45th president for his abortion stance Tuesday, DeSantis pointedly noted that key early voting state Iowa adopted the same six-week ban.

The Florida governor is expected to announced his presidential candidacy in the coming days.