Former President Donald Trump declared on Friday that he would oppose a Florida ballot initiative seeking to repeal the state’s six-week abortion ban, after initially hinting that he might support it. Trump expressed his belief that the six-week ban in Florida is too restrictive during an interview with Fox News Channel, stating, “I think six weeks, you need more time.” He also criticized the Democratic Party, reiterated false claims about late-term abortions, and stated his opposition to abortions up to nine months. As a result, Trump confirmed he would vote against the measure, given his concerns.
The Florida ballot measure aims to legalize abortion until fetal viability, typically around 23 or 24 weeks into pregnancy, which equates to about six months. Trump faced criticism from his anti-abortion supporters after appearing to suggest in a different interview that he would vote in favor of the initiative by stating, “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks.” In response to the backlash, Trump’s campaign issued a statement clarifying that he had not definitively declared his voting stance, but rather emphasized his belief that six weeks is insufficient time for making such a critical decision.
Trump’s stance on abortion has been subject to fluctuations over time. Following a fleeting consideration of endorsing a potential nationwide 15-week ban on abortion, he later proclaimed in April that the issue should be regulated at the state level. Notably, he has taken credit for contributing to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and praised the states for implementing their own restrictive measures.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic rival, expressed a strong opposition to his Friday comments, asserting, “Donald Trump just made his position on abortion very clear: He will vote to uphold an abortion ban so extreme it applies before many women even know they are pregnant.” Trump, currently a Florida resident registered to vote at Mar-a-Lago, is poised to play a decisive role in the upcoming ballot decision on the state’s abortion policy.
