Former President Donald Trump has stated that he would vote against a ballot measure in Florida seeking to enshrine abortion access in the state’s constitution. Trump believes that a six-week ban is too short, while allowing abortion up until nine months is too radical.
The proposed amendment, known as the Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion, aims to overturn Florida’s existing six-week abortion ban and prevent future legislation from limiting abortion access. It guarantees the right to abortion before viability, which is typically around 24 weeks of pregnancy and potentially up until birth.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump expressed his view that the current six-week ban is “too short.” However, his campaign clarified that this did not indicate support for Florida’s pro-abortion ballot initiative. According to Trump’s national press secretary Karoline Leavitt, he simply believes that six weeks is insufficient.
Speaking on Fox News, Trump further explained his position by stating that he would vote against the ballot measure because it is “radical.” He emphasized his opposition to performing abortions in the ninth month of pregnancy but also expressed dissatisfaction with the six-week timeframe.
The proposed amendment states that no law should prohibit or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary for protecting a patient’s health as determined by their healthcare provider. It does not affect the Legislature’s authority to require parental notification for minors seeking abortions.
When asked about vetoing a federal abortion ban if elected again, Trump declined to commit and suggested that states are effectively handling this issue through their own voting processes. He credited himself for returning power over making abortion laws back to individual states through his appointments of Supreme Court justices who supported this decision.
Reproductive issues such as IVF and abortion have been prominent topics during this election cycle for both parties. Trump has promised free IVF services for women in the United States and plans to fund or require insurance companies to cover IVF treatments. The specifics of this plan are still being considered but aim at making IVF more accessible across different family structures.
This discussion gained attention after Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled embryos legally children temporarily halting IVF services in the state.