‘VERY THORNY’: Trump Responds to Impending Influx of Cash to Planned Parenthood

President Donald Trump said the question of defunding Planned Parenthood again for another year is a “very thorny issue.” 

The Daily Signal asked Trump on Monday if he wants Congress to extend the one-year defund of Planned Parenthood that was passed in the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” and is set to expire July 4, America’s 250th birthday. 

Trump said the issue is “under negotiation right now.”

“Congress is now negotiating,” he said. “We’ve been very good for the people that want it, for the people that are here, and we’ll see how that goes.”

“It’s been very thorny,” he added. “To put it mildly, it’s been a very thorny issue.”

Trump did not respond to a follow-up question on whether he would like to extend the defund. 

The pro-life movement has prioritized the prevention of taxpayer funding of abortion clinics. A coalition of pro-life leaders penned a letter urging the Senate to cut abortion funding in the 2026 budget reconciliation package.

To the disappointment of the pro-life movement, Congress recently moved forward with a second “skinny” reconciliation bill that only included Department of Homeland Security funding to end the shutdown of the agency. Members want a larger third package to include various policy priorities, including an extension of the Planned Parenthood defund, additional funding for the Department of War, and possibly a measure to require voter identification. 

Speaker Mike Johnson has assured some members of Congress and pro-life leaders that he will try to stop the resumption of Planned Parenthood funding, The Daily Signal reported. 

“He said he’s doing everything he can to make sure that happens,” Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., told The Daily Signal. “I have a great deal of respect for Speaker Johnson. I do believe he will do everything he can.”

Johnson has said he hopes to use reconciliation to defund Planned Parenthood again.

“We’ve been very creative in how we’ve used that, and we’re intending to do that again,” he said at the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Gala on April 29.