Trump Says Florida’s Six-Week Abortion Ban Is ‘Too Short,’ Suggests He May Vote For Abortion-Rights Ballot Measure

Donald Trump made a surprising departure from conservative values when he openly criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban and suggested that the timeframe is too restrictive in an interview on Thursday.

Asked about a proposed amendment to Florida’s constitution aimed at protecting abortion rights, Trump indicated he would support a measure that allowed more than six weeks for abortions. “I think six weeks is too short; it has to be more time,” Trump told NBC News.

This statement, made during a campaign event in Michigan, will likely alienate some anti-abortion advocates within the GOP.

Trump’s comments prompted a swift response from his campaign, which emphasized that he has not yet made a definitive decision in regard to how he will vote on the amendment. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt clarified, “Trump has not yet said how he will vote on the ballot initiative in Florida; he simply reiterated that he believes six weeks is too short.”

Four months prior, Trump had expressed his preference for leaving abortion decisions to individual states. Currently, multiple states, such as Arizona and Missouri, have presented referendums on the controversial issue.

Florida’s law, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) and other state Republican leaders, prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically around six weeks. In response, abortion rights advocates have fought to pass a ballot measure that would enshrine protections for abortion in the state constitution. “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health,” he measure reads.

The proposed measure would restore the abortion access standards set forth by the now-defunct Roe v. Wade decision, a ruling that was overturned in 2022 by a Supreme Court that included three justices appointed by Trump.

In addition to discussing abortion, Trump also addressed in vitro fertilization (IVF) in his media appearances and pledged that, if re-elected, his administration would cover IVF costs.

He stated, “We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay,” although he did not elaborate on the specifics of how this plan would be executed.

The issue of IVF has gained attention after a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, which recognized embryos created through IVF as legally protected humans. The average cost for a single IVF cycle can reach approximately $12,000, making it a significant financial burden for many aspiring parents.

The fall of Roe v. Wade has intensified the national conversation around reproductive rights and made it a pivotal topic in the 2024 election cycle. Trump has consistently opposed the idea of a national abortion ban, which has drawn criticism from anti-abortion coalitions and some Republican leaders, including his own running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who recently stated that Trump would veto such legislation if it reached his desk.

Supporting an abortion rights amendment that could reverse existing restrictions in Florida would represent a significant departure from the staunch anti-abortion stance that has characterized much of the Republican Party’s platform, particularly in light of DeSantis’s efforts to impose the six-week limit.