Trump backtracks on punishing illegal abortions
Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has quickly clarified his position on abortion after sparking a torrent of criticism when he said women who end pregnancies should face punishment if the United States bans abortion.
The comments drew the ire of critics, including his White House rivals.
After MSNBC broadcast a clip of an interview with Mr Trump’s comments, the billionaire appeared to backtrack on his remarks by saying that if abortion were illegal the doctor should be punished and that the abortion issue should be handled by states.
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Mr Trump said in the excerpt that even if abortions are banned, some women would access the procedure illegally.
“There has to be some form of punishment,” he said. But asked what form he would advocate, Mr Trump said: “I don’t know”.
Mr Trump’s comments unleashed a flurry of criticism, and his campaign quickly emailed a statement to Reuters in which Mr Trump moderated his view.
“This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination,” Mr Trump said in the statement.
Mr Trump later followed up with a second statement saying a doctor carrying out the illegal act would be responsible and not the woman.
“The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb,” he said.
Kasich says punishment not ‘an appropriate response’
The billionaire has been under pressure to demonstrate he is conservative on issues such as abortion but rivals also have criticised him for comments that offended women and minority groups.
But Mr Trump’s latest remarks drew furore from across the political spectrum.