WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump came out on Friday A ballot measure in the US state of Florida that would have expanded access to abortion has done damage control on the issue after a day of passing.
His announcement came one day After speaking to NBC News He said Florida’s six-week ban was “too short” and declined to take a clear position on a state ballot measure that would expand access to the procedure.
On Friday, Trump reiterated that women need “more time” than six weeks to decide whether to have an abortion, but that “Democrats are radicals” and he cannot support the amendment.
“So I think you need six weeks more time, and then I heard about it from our first primary six weeks ago and I disagreed with it.” Trump told Fox News about it. “At the same time, the Democrats are radical because nine months is just ridiculous that you can have an abortion at the ninth month… So I’m going to vote no on that.”
The proposed amendment would prohibit restrictions on abortion until the fetus is viable before the 24th week of pregnancy, while providing exceptions to protect the health of the mother.
The backlash from anti-abortion advocates has been fierce since Trump’s interview with NBC News, with some warning that the Republican presidential nominee risks losing the support of the party’s core bloc.
Alarmed by what she saw, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the influential anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called Trump on Thursday to clarify his comments, according to a source with knowledge of the conversation. Trump told him he had not expressed a position on the amendment on the ballot of his state this fall.
Dannenfelser told him that “it’s important that you be clear because there is confusion now that you can support it.” He also told her the amendment was “inconsistent” with his opposition to late-term abortion.
“I’m going to vote that we need more than six weeks,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News when asked how he would vote on the ballot. It’s not clear what he meant because the Florida initiative gave voters a dual choice.
On Thursday, Trump’s campaign released a statement saying the former president “has not yet said how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida.”
Meanwhile, anti-abortion activists who have given critical support to Trump during three presidential elections have rallied. Some also criticized his proposal to mandate that the government or insurance companies pay for in vitro fertilization treatment.
“Former President Trump is now determined to undermine many of his supporters,” said evangelical theologian Albert Mohler. He wrote in X. “His criticism of Florida’s abortion restrictions and his call for government funding of IVF and his recent statement about ‘reproductive rights’ seem almost calculated to alienate many voters.”
The showdown puts Trump and Republicans in uncharted waters, Roe v. It faces the first presidential election in half a century without Wade. When the GOP could use it to rally anti-abortion voters without a chance of legislative success, it rallied behind legislation to ban abortion at the state and federal levels.
But some Republicans now fear a voter backlash from a majority of Americans who in polls say they want abortion to be mostly or always legal, especially as Democrats try to capitalize more on the issue. Trump, who boasted of appointing three of the five Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe, is still struggling to manage it.
Abortion foes are torn over whether to abandon Trump or support him in the hope that Republicans will win in November and continue nationwide abortion restrictions despite the former president’s claims to the contrary.
Conservative radio host Erick Erickson: “If Donald Trump loses in November, his improvisational approach to abortion will cost him a victory and alienate the pro-life community.” he said.
Kristen Hawkins, president of Students for Life, which has helped organize tens of thousands of anti-abortion activists, mostly on college campuses. X wrote on Thursday: “My phone is blowing up with @SFLAction volunteers, no more knocking on President Trump’s door if this doesn’t get fixed. Polls neck and neck, this is the last thing we need right now to defeat Kamala’s pro-abortion extremism.
He told NBC News that the Trump campaign “personally” told his caucus leaders it was undecided about the Florida event. He said they expected him to vote “no” and warned that Trump’s blandishment on the issue would likely hurt his support with many volunteers.
“When they hear that the leader of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, is backing away from his pro-life statements, it’s devastating for them,” he said. “And they are shocked that Republicans have betrayed this very important part of the Republican Party.”
“He has to be very careful with his words,” she said.
Taryn Fenske, spokeswoman for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, disputed Trump’s comments.
“Donald Trump has consistently said that late-term abortions where the baby can feel pain should not be allowed, and he has always stood up for parents’ rights,” Fenske said. On X. “Amendment 4 would allow late-term abortions, eliminate parental consent, and open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions. It is excessive and must be defeated.”
Casey DeSantis, wife of the governor, also drewsaying the initiative would “open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions,” adding, “We need to spread the word and vote NO on 4!”
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign says Trump lied about abortion changes and pro-IVF rhetoric.
“We support Donald Trump and JD Vance in Roe v. We will take responsibility for the devastating effects of the fight against Wade and their threats to access to IVF. So every day from now until Election Day, we’re going to make sure that the communities that will be deciding this election know the basics here and the primary choice of this election,” Harris spokesman Kevin Munoz told reporters Friday. “Kamala Harris will fight for your rights. Donald Trump will take them.”