President Joe Biden made his first public comments from the White House on Friday about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that legalized abortion nationwide.
Biden called the Supreme Court abortion ruling a "sad day for the court and for the country." He also said the Supreme Court "took" the right away.
The remarks outlined his approach to this new phase of the fight over abortion access.
The White House has been preparing for this moment since a draft of the decision leaked in May. Officials have been huddling with state leaders, advocates, health care professionals and others to prepare for a future without Roe v. Wade.
Now Biden's plans will be tested in terms of politics and policy.
Biden and other Democrats hope to use outrage over the court decision to rally voters in November's midterm elections. Although nationwide legislation ensuring access to abortion appears out of reach, more Democratic victories at the state level could limit Republican efforts to ban the practice.
Many Republican-controlled states are poised to severely restrict abortion, or even ban it outright.
Also watch: Explained: the 'Roe vs Wade' abortion rights verdict that US Supreme Court has overturned
The White House has been exploring options for Biden to take executive action to safeguard abortion rights, but his options are limited.