Trump backpedals from abortion comments
Republican presidential front-runner agreed with punishment of women if procedure was illegal
APPLETON, Wis. — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump came under fire Wednesday for saying that women should be subject to “some sort of punishment” for undergoing illegal abortions.
But just a few hours later, he published a statement on his website recanting his earlier comments.
“The doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman,” Trump added in the second statement. “The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb.
“Like Ronald Reagan, I am prolife with exceptions, which I have outlined numerous times.”
Trump has often said he’s opposed to abortions but for the case of three exceptions: rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk. He used to describe himself as in favour of abortion rights, but says his stance has evolved over the years.
The Republican front-runner said earlier during a pre-taped town hall hosted by MSNBC that criminal punishments would be appropriate for women seeking abortions if the procedure were made illegal nationwide.
Moderator Chris Matthews pressed Trump on the practical implications of banning abortions.
“This is not something you can dodge. If you say abortion is a crime or abortion is murder, you have to deal with it under the law. Should abortion be punished?” Matthews said.
“The answer is that there has to be some form of punishment,” Trump responded. “There has to be some form.”
He repeatedly stated during the interview that he is pro-life but did not weigh in on what specific punishments women would face if abortions were illegal.
Trump’s critics — Republican and Democratic alike — have said they believe the way he speaks about women is misogynistic.
They point to his ongoing feud with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, whom he has repeatedly chastised in unusually personal terms.
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who is poised to become the first female presidential nominee of a major party, responded immediately via social media.
“Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse. Horrific and telling,” Clinton wrote on Twitter.
The New York billionaire arrived in Wisconsin fending off another controversy. His campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was charged with misdemeanour battery in Florida on Tuesday over an altercation with a female reporter earlier this month.