Donald Trump has announced his intention to vote against a ballot measure in Florida designed to protect abortion rights, following criticism from conservative supporters. This announcement came just one day after an NBC News interview where Trump seemed to endorse the measure, prompting a strong backlash from anti-abortion activists.
In a Friday interview with Fox News, Trump expressed his belief that Florida’s six-week abortion ban is excessively restrictive. Despite this, he confirmed he would vote “no” on the ballot measure that aims to amend the state’s constitution to safeguard abortion rights. “You need more time than six weeks,” Trump remarked. “I’ve disagreed with that right from the early primaries when I heard about it.”
Trump’s opposition to the measure was explained with his unfounded claim that Democrats support allowing abortions at any stage of pregnancy. This assertion was used to justify his decision to vote against the Florida measure. According to KFF, a non-profit health organization, while abortion laws differ widely across the US, procedures performed after 21 weeks are uncommon and generally occur due to severe fetal anomalies or risks to the mother’s health.
Trump’s decision to vote against the measure followed his comments on Thursday, where he stated, “I think the six week is too short. It has to be more time. I told them that I want more weeks.” He reiterated, “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks” when pressed further.
Vice President Kamala Harris quickly criticized Trump’s announcement, indicating that his stance reflects a continued anti-abortion position. “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,” she said.
Trump’s comments on Thursday, which appeared to suggest support for the constitutional amendment, were met with significant backlash from leaders within the anti-abortion movement, a key force in shaping conservative politics. Erick Erickson, a conservative commentator, criticized Trump’s position, saying, “If Donald Trump loses, today is the day he lost.” He added, “The committed pro-life community could turn a blind eye, in part, to national abortion issues. But for Trump to weigh in on Florida as he did will be a bridge too far for too many.”
Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, expressed concern that Trump’s comments seemed deliberately designed to alienate pro-life voters. “Pro-life Christian voters are going to have to think clearly, honestly, and soberly about our challenge in this election – starting at the top of the ticket,” Mohler stated.
Following the NBC interview, Trump’s campaign and his running mate, JD Vance, clarified that the former president had not yet finalized his position on the ballot initiative. Vance mentioned that Trump would make his own decision on how to vote based on “his own judgement.”
Trump had previously criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban, calling it a “terrible mistake” when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed it into law. DeSantis, who was competing against Trump in the Republican primary at the time, faced this criticism from the former president.
In the broader context, the abortion laws in the US vary significantly from state to state. Following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn the nationwide right to abortion, states like Florida implemented bans such as the six-week restriction. The proposed amendment in Florida, supported by reproductive rights advocates, seeks to protect abortion access up to the point of fetal viability, approximately 23-25 weeks of pregnancy, instead of specifying a strict timeframe.
Current opinion polls reflect significant support for abortion access among Americans. A July poll conducted by the University of North Florida showed that 69% of likely voters backed the Florida ballot measure, while 23% were opposed.
The political fallout from the end of Roe v. Wade has posed a challenge for Trump, who initially gained support from the religious right, known for its stance on restricting abortion. During his first presidential campaign, Trump promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade, a promise he fulfilled by appointing three conservative justices who ultimately voted to dismantle the precedent.
In his 2024 campaign, Trump has advocated for leaving abortion policy decisions to individual states, a stance that has led to conflicts with many conservatives who support nationwide restrictions. Despite this, the rank-and-file party members continued to support Trump at the Republican National Convention in July.
Adding another layer of complexity to Trump’s position is his recent proposal to have the government or insurance companies cover the costs of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a procedure some anti-abortion and religious groups oppose due to its involvement with embryos.
