Women who get abortions should receive “some form of punishment,” Republican front-runner Donald Trump said Wednesday, without indicating specifically what the punishment should be.
The comments came in a heated exchange with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews during the taping of a town hall in Wisconsin, which holds its primary next week.
There has to be some form of punishment. I haven’t determined what the punishment should be.Donald Trump
Trump also suggested that women could continue to receive abortions, but at “illegal places.”
The subject of abortion remains highly controversial decades after the Supreme Court legalised it.
Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton quickly responded on Twitter.
Trump has often said he’s opposed to abortions except in the case of three exceptions: rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk. He used to describe himself as in favor of abortion rights, but says his stance has evolved over the years.
Trump’s campaign later issued a further statement from the candidate:
This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination. Like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions, which I have outlined numerous times.Statement from Trump’s Campaign
Trump Rolls Back from his Statement
Shortly afterwards, Trump walked back on his statement.
Trump said in a later statement that abortion providers — not women — should be the ones punished.
“If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman. The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb.Donald Trump
Even before Trump’s comments, recent polls have put his negative ratings nearing or even eclipsing 70 percent among women.
(With AP inputs)
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