Trump: Six-week abortion limit is "too short"
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Former President Trump on Aug. 26 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Emily Elconin/Getty Images
Former President Trump said Thursday that an abortion limit banning the procedure after six weeks in Florida is "too short."
The big picture: Trump, who has long boasted that he was the one who "was able to kill Roe v. Wade," has flip-flopped on his abortion stance, campaigning with a leave-it-to-the-states approach.
- Although he once indicated he favored a national abortion ban, the 2024 GOP presidential candidate announced in April that he believes the issue should be left up to states to decide.
Zoom in: Trump, a Florida resident, was asked in an interview with NBC News Thursday how he would vote on an abortion amendment on the ballot in his home state this November.
- The ballot measure, if passed, would nix the state's six-week ban and enshrine abortion access until fetal viability (around 24–28 weeks of pregnancy) in the state constitution.
- "I think the six week is too short, there has to be more time," Trump said. "I've told them I want more weeks."
- Without explicitly answering if he'll vote in favor of the measure, he said, "I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks."
Zoom out: Trump has previously criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' abortion ban, which does not allow for the procedure in the state after six weeks.
- But with abortion back on the ballot in several states this November, Republicans' division over how to handle the topic continues to plague the party on multiple levels.
What he's saying: "Everybody wanted Roe v. Wade terminated for years, for 52 years," Trump said Thursday. "I got it done."
- He added: "They wanted it to go back to the states. Exceptions are very important for me, for Ronald Reagan, for others that have navigated this very, very interesting and difficult path."
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