Trump Calls Florida’s Six-Week Abortion Ban ‘Too Short,’ May Vote to Amend

Donald Trump has expressed opposition to Florida’s new law that prohibits abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy. He also indicated that he plans to support an abortion rights amendment to the state’s constitution, which will be voted on in November.

In a recent interview with NBC News, Trump, who is registered in Florida, articulated his desire for “more weeks” than the current six-week limit.

If approved by voters, Amendment 4 would modify the state constitution to declare that “no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

This amendment would nullify the state’s six-week abortion ban, which is implemented before many individuals even realize they are pregnant.

When questioned about his voting intentions regarding the amendment, Trump remarked that “the six week is too short” and insisted that “there has to be more time.”

“I’ve told them I want more weeks,” he stated, emphasizing his intent to vote for the amendment in support of extending the time frame.

Throughout his political career, Trump has struggled to articulate a consistent stance on reproductive healthcare. His mixed messages over the past quarter-century have attracted scrutiny from both abortion rights advocates and those within the anti-abortion camp.

In 2015, Trump was noted to have “five positions on abortion in three days,” as reported by The Washington Post. Concurrently, figures like Kamala Harris and other Democratic competitors have warned that a further Trump presidency, potentially backed by a Republican Congress, could lead to the introduction of a national abortion ban.

Despite his prior mixed messages, Trump has often claimed credit for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had enshrined the constitutional right to abortion. He has aligned himself with the conservative Project 2025, which proposes using an obsolete obscenity law to restrict access to abortion pills.

The Supreme Court recently dismissed a challenge against the approval of mifepristone, a commonly used abortion medication, while Trump has stated that he generally does not support banning such drugs under the Comstock Act.

“It’s going to be available and it is now,” he remarked, asserting that the Supreme Court has favored maintaining the current status quo. “I will enforce and agree with the Supreme Court,” he added, indicating his intent to uphold the existing laws regarding abortion medications.

Just last week, Trump claimed on his Truth Social account that his administration “will be great for women and their reproductive rights.”

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022, Florida has joined over a dozen states in enacting stringent abortion laws. This six-week ban classifies the provision of abortion services after approximately six weeks of gestation as a felony.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whose spokesperson Taryn Fenske opposes Amendment 4, has countered Trump’s remarks. Fenske claimed that Trump consistently advocates against late-term abortions and supports parental rights.

“Amendment 4 would allow late-term abortions, eliminate parental consent, and open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions,” Fenske stated. “It’s extreme and must be defeated,” she insisted.

In addition to Florida, voters across at least ten states will be deciding on abortion rights initiatives this upcoming November, including those aimed at enshrining the right to seek abortion care within state constitutions.

During a recent rally in Michigan, Trump also stated that his administration would ensure that either the government or insurance companies cover all expenses associated with in vitro fertilization, should he gain office.

However, Harris spokesperson Sarafina Chitika responded, saying, “Trump’s own platform could effectively ban IVF and abortion nationwide.” She criticized Trump for his deceptive statements, asserting that voters are not oblivious to the implications of his policies.

“Because Trump overturned Roe v. Wade, IVF is already under attack and women’s freedoms have been ripped away in states across the country,” Chitika concluded.