Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will vote against a Florida referendum that would expand abortion access in his adopted state. He had previously said he would not support a stricter six-week ban, which had thrown his position into question.
That came just days after Trump criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban in an interview with DailyMail.com, saying, “I think it should be longer than six weeks.”
His campaign staff insisted that his comments did not reveal his definitive position. The candidate made that clear in an interview with Fox News later Friday night, after pressure from pro-life groups.
“So I think you need six more weeks, and then six more weeks. I disagreed with that from the beginning of the primaries, when I heard about it, I disagreed with it,” Trump told the network, reiterating his sentiment.
“At the same time, the Democrats are radical, because nine months is just a ridiculous situation, where you can have an abortion in the ninth month. … So for that reason, I’m voting no,” Trump said.
The amendment on the ballot that he is now publicly opposing would ban abortion restrictions until the fetus is viable, approximately 24 weeks — or six months — into the pregnancy, except for the life and health of the mother.
By choosing Amendment 4, which offers voters a simple yes or no, his response shocked allies in the anti-abortion movement who are a key part of his coalition. It followed other comments about protecting reproductive rights as Trump hopes to avoid the difficulties he has faced in off-year elections since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Trump appointed three of the conservative justices who wrote the majority ruling.
And his campaign mounted a cleanup Thursday night after Trump made similar comments to NBC News.
“President Trump has not yet said how he will vote on the Florida ballot initiative, other than reiterating that he believes six weeks is too short,” said Karoline Leavitt, national spokesperson for the Trump campaign.
Trump had told NBC he was “going to vote that we need more than six weeks,” further complicating the issue as it was a vote for or against the referendum.
Donald Trump said he had decided how he would vote in Florida’s upcoming referendum on the recently passed six-week abortion ban. “I think six weeks is a mistake,” he said. “And I’ll be saying that soon, but I want more than six weeks.”
He told DailyMail.com at Mar-a-Lago that he had decided how he would vote. “Well, I know, but I want more than six weeks,” he said. “I want more than six weeks.
Conservative commentator Erik Erikson was among those outraged by Trump’s recent comments before eventually speaking out against the referendum during a major interview with Kamala Harris.
“Instead of focusing on the Kamala Harris interview tonight, Trump decided to further divide the GOP. Not a good strategy for winning,” he posted on X.
Florida bans almost all abortions after six weeks. Asked how he would vote on a measure to extend the term beyond 20 weeks, Trump told DailyMail.com: “I want more than six weeks.”
Trump has walked a narrow path on this issue, knowing it could be key to the 2024 election.
During his time in office, he was widely regarded as the most pro-life president in history.
He was credited with ending federal protections for abortion after the Supreme Court (including three of his picks) overturned Roe v. Wade.
But he has since expressed concern that Republicans could come under fire at the ballot box if they push through strict federal bans.
Instead, he said it is up to the states to decide.
But with his home state of Florida set to vote in November on Amendment 4, which would allow abortions up to the point of “viability” where fetuses can survive outside the mother’s womb, he can’t avoid explaining his personal position forever.
He only spoke openly on the issue later when asked by DailyMail.com how he would vote.
“I think six weeks is a mistake. And I’ll say that soon, but I want more than six weeks,” he said at his Mar-a-Lago home, where he first spoke about his thoughts on the referendum.
“And in Florida we have a six-week program. I think you vote on that, and I think it should be longer than six weeks.”
The Trump campaign released a statement clarifying its position
Democrats are putting abortion referendums on ballots in a number of states in November
There is no alternative to yes or no, say supporters of women’s right to choose, who have shown their support on social media.
A day later he said the same thing in a second TV interview.
But a top anti-abortion leader immediately contacted Trump to gauge his position.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said Trump had not yet committed to how he would vote.
“President Trump has consistently opposed abortions after five months of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would allow abortions after that point. Voting for Amendment 4 completely undermines his position,” she said.
Trump stoked concerns among his anti-abortion allies last week with this message, in which he used the language of opponents by referring to women and their “reproductive rights”
“We strongly support Florida’s current heartbeat law. Anyone who believes in drawing a different line should still vote against Amendment 4, unless they want no line at all. Amendment 4 would enshrine unlimited abortion in the state constitution, making it impossible for the Florida Legislature to make any changes.”
Florida’s strict abortion law was signed into law last year by Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Donald Trump has always said that abortions in late pregnancy, where a baby can feel pain, should never be allowed. He has always been a strong advocate for the rights of parents,” said Taryn Fenske, communications director for the governor’s office.
“Amendment 4 would allow late-stage abortions, eliminate parental consent, and open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions. It is extreme and must be defeated.”