Presumed 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to vote “no” on a pro-abortion amendment in Florida that will be on the ballot in November, Fox News reported.
Florida's proposed Amendment 4 would exempt abortions “before viability or when necessary” from legal restrictions. President Trump said Thursday in response to NBC News comments about the amendment that have raised concerns among pro-lifers: Fox News He plans to vote against the amendment on Friday, condemning late-term abortions and infanticide.
“The reason Democrats are radical is because the idea of being able to have an abortion within nine months is just an absurd situation,” Trump told Fox News.
“And in Minnesota and other states, we have a system where you can actually execute babies after they're born, and that's unacceptable,” Trump continued.
In April, the Florida Supreme Court upheld a ruling that abortion is not a protected right, allowing the six-week abortion ban to go into effect.
President Trump appeared to clarify his position on the amendment on Thursday, suggesting to NBC News that Florida's six-week abortion ban should go into effect in the coming weeks.
“You want to overturn Roe and make abortion a states' rights issue. Your state of Florida has an abortion amendment on the ballot to overturn Florida's six-week abortion ban. How will you vote on this?” an NBC News reporter asked.
“I think six weeks is too short. We need more time. So I told them I want a few more weeks,” Trump said.
“So, will you vote for the amendment?” the NBC News reporter asked.
“I'm going to vote that we need more than six weeks. What I want you to understand is that for 52 years, everybody wanted Roe v. Wade repealed. I got it done. They wanted to go back to the states. The exception was very important to me, very important to Ronald Reagan and very important to other people who have been down this very interesting and difficult road,” Trump replied.
“I think six weeks is too short. We need more time,” former President Trump said of how he voted for an abortion rights amendment in Florida. pic.twitter.com/rQAdPtW9i0
— NBC Politics (@NBCPolitics) August 29, 2024
Trump's response sparked a fierce backlash from pro-life activists who have benefited from the former president's judicial nominations.
My personal message to the Trump campaign on abortion: pic.twitter.com/TrjQI2BQqE
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) August 28, 2024
Statement on President Trump's Florida remarks
“I spoke with President Trump this evening. He has not stated how he will vote on Amendment 4.” —SBA Chairman Marjorie SBA
Read more⬇️
— SBA Pro-Life America (@sbaprolife) August 29, 2024
In the same NBC interview, Trump also said that if he is re-elected, he would either have the government pay for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or require insurance companies to cover it. (RELATED: Video shows police arresting man who reportedly tried to enter media area at Trump rally)
“We need great kids, beautiful kids in our country. We really need them,” Trump said. “Under a Trump administration, we're going to pay for their care. So we're going to pay for their care.”
Former President Trump told NBC News that if re-elected, his administration would not only protect access to IVF, but would also get the government or insurance companies to cover the costs of IVF.
more: https://t.co/AzV45GBhFd pic.twitter.com/rZZdejDGXX
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 29, 2024
Trump made his stance on abortion clear in March, saying “exceptions must be made” for cases of rape, incest and when the mother's life is at risk. During the election campaign, the former president repeatedly stressed that abortion is a states' rights issue, following the US Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022.
Trump also mentioned another proposed amendment that Floridians would vote on to legalize marijuana. post He urged state lawmakers on Saturday to “legislate responsibly” and said the process “must be done right.”
