Donald Trump revealed Thursday that he will vote against a ballot referendum in Florida that would expand access to abortion in his adoptive state, after voicing his disagreements with a stricter six-week ban that left his view open to question. That came just days after Trump criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban in an interview with DailyMail.com, saying, ‘I think it should be more than six weeks.’ His campaign aides insisted his comments did not reveal his final position, which the candidate then clarified in an interview with Fox News late Friday following pressure from pro-life groups. ‘So I think six weeks you need more time, then six weeks I’ve disagreed with that right from the early primaries when I heard about it I disagreed with it,’ Trump told the network, repeating the sentiment. ‘At the same time the Democrats are radical because the nine months is just a ridiculous situation where you can do an abortion in the ninth month. … So I’ll be voting no for that reason,’ Trump said. The amendment on the ballot that he is now publicly opposing bars abortion restrictions up until the viability of the fetus, about 24 weeks – or six months – into pregnancy, with exceptions for the life and health of the mother. With a choice on Amendment 4 that offers a simple yes or no to voters, his response horrified allies in the anti-abortion movement, who are a critical part of his coalition. It followed other comments about protecting reproductive rights as Trump hopes to avoid the difficulties have suffered in off-year elections since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Trump appointed three of the conservative justices determined the majority ruling. And his campaign played cleanup on Thursday evening, after Trump made similar comments to NBC News. ‘President 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,’ said Karoline Leavitt, Trump Campaign national press secretary. Trump had told NBC that ‘I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks,’ which further confused the issue, given that it is an up or down vote on the referendum at hand. He told DailyMail.com at Mar-a-Lago that he had decided how he would vote. ‘Well, I do know, but I do want more than six weeks,’ he said. ‘I want more than six weeks. Conservative commentator Erik Erikson was among those fuming at Trump’s recent comments before he finally came out against the referendum, on a night of a big Kamala Harris interview. ‘Instead of having all the focus on the Kamala Harris interview tonight, Trump decided to further divide the GOP. Not a good strategy for winning,’ he posted on X. Florida bans almost all abortions after six weeks and, when asked how he would vote on a measure that would extend the limit to more than 20 weeks, Trump told DailyMail.com: ‘I want more than six weeks.’ Trump has walked a narrow path on the issue, knowing that it could hold the key to the 2024 election. During his administration he was happy to be seen as the most ‘pro-life’ president in history. He took credit for ending federal protections on abortion after the Supreme Court (including three of his picks) overturned Roe v Wade. But he has since expressed concern that Republicans could be battered at the ballot box if they push hardline federal bans. Instead, he said it was up to states to decide the matter. However, with his home state of Florida due in November to vote on Amendment 4, which would allow abortions up to the point of ‘viability’ when fetuses can survive outside the mother’s womb, he cannot avoid explaining his personal position forever. He trailed a public reveal on the issue when DailyMail.com asked him how he would be voting. ‘I think six weeks is a mistake. And I’ll be expressing that soon, but I want more than six weeks,’ he said at his Mar-a-Lago home, speaking for the first time about his thoughts on the referendum. ‘And in Florida, we have a six-week program, and that’s what I believe that you’re voting on, and I think it should be more than six weeks.’ There is no alternative to a yes or no, delighting supporters of a woman’s right to choose, who took to social media in support. He said the same thing in a second TV interview a day later. But a key anti-abortion leader immediately got in touch with Trump to check his position. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said Trump hold her he had not yet committed to how he will vote. ‘President Trump has consistently opposed abortions after five months of pregnancy. Amendment 4 would allow abortion past this point. Voting for Amendment 4 completely undermines his position,’ she said. ‘We strongly support Florida’s current heartbeat law. For anyone who believes in drawing a different line, they still must vote against Amendment 4, unless they don’t want a line at all. Amendment 4 would lock unlimited abortion into the state constitution, preventing the Florida legislature from enacting any changes.’ Florida’s hardline abortion law was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis last year. ‘Donald Trump has consistently stated that late-term abortions where a baby can feel pain should never be permitted, and he’s always stood up for parents’ rights,’ said Taryn Fenske, communications director for the governor’s office. ‘Amendment 4 would allow late-term abortions, eliminate parental consent, and open the door to taxpayer-funded abortions. It’s extreme and must be defeated.’
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