Former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in the United States, announced on Friday that he would vote against a proposed amendment aimed at overturning the six-week abortion ban. He argued that six weeks is too short and allowing abortion up to nine months is too radical.
The proposed Florida “Limitations on Governmental Abortion Amendment” aims to overturn the state’s law prohibiting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and prevent any future legislation restricting abortion. This constitutional amendment will be put to a voter referendum in November.
Florida’s Supreme Court ruled in early April to ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with the prohibition taking effect on May 1st.
However, the state’s Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects the right of pregnant women to have an abortion until around 24 weeks of pregnancy, and potentially even up until the birth of the fetus.
In an interview with NBC, Trump stated that the current six-week abortion ban period is “too short.”
Following media coverage interpreting Trump’s stance as supportive of abortion in Florida, the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign team clarified his position.
Karoline Leavitt, the National Press Secretary for Trump’s campaign, stated in a press release, “He is simply reiterating that he believes six weeks is too short.”
During a Fox News interview on Friday, Trump further elaborated on his stance. He explicitly stated that he would vote against the proposed amendment because “it’s too radical.”
“Abortion in the ninth month is something nobody can accept,” Trump said, “six weeks is too short, nine months is unacceptable,” and “for this reason, we voted against the radical agenda of the Democratic Party.”
The proposed amendment states that “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortions before the fetus is viable, and when necessary to protect the patient’s (pregnant woman’s) health, the decision shall be made by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
The amendment also asserts that it will not “alter the constitutional rights of the legislature to require minors to notify their parents or guardians before obtaining an abortion.”
Trump refused to commit to vetoing a federal abortion ban if elected, stating that states are effectively handling the issue themselves.
“The situation right now is, you don’t really have to because the states are working it,” Trump said, “states are voting, people have an opportunity to vote now, and that’s what everybody wants.”
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to return the authority to enact abortion laws to the individual states. Three of the five justices who voted in favor of this decision were appointed by Trump.
Trump credited himself on Thursday for this decision. “If you go back 10, 15 years, they all wanted to give it back to the states,” Trump said, “they didn’t want it decided by the federal government, I did that.”
Reproductive rights, including issues related to in vitro fertilization and abortion, are key topics focused on by both parties in the current presidential election.
Trump pledged to provide free in vitro fertilization for American women, with details to be released in the coming weeks.
He also stated that his next administration plans to fund or require insurance companies to cover the costs of in vitro fertilization, making it easier for Americans to access assisted reproductive services.
While the specifics of this plan, including consideration for same-sex couples, are still being deliberated, Trump emphasized his support for in vitro fertilization and highlighted the benefits it brings to families.
“We’re doing it because we think it’s great,” Trump said, “our country needs great kids, beautiful kids, we really do need them.”
The discussion around this issue has garnered extra attention following a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court categorizing human embryos legally as children, leading to the suspension of the state’s in vitro fertilization services.