Former President Donald Trump on Friday announced his opposition to a ballot initiative aimed at enshrining abortion rights up to fetal viability in the Florida constitution.
Former President Donald Trump announced Friday that he plans to vote against Amendment 4, a Florida ballot initiative aimed at enshrining the right to abortion up to fetal viability in the state constitution.
In an appearance on Fox News, Trump stated that though he disagrees with Florida’s six-week abortion limit, he is unable to side with Democrats for supporting what he described as “radical” abortion policies that allow procedures up to nine months, calling such policies “a ridiculous situation.”
“[Y]ou need more time than six weeks,” said Trump. “I’ve disagreed with that right from the early primaries. When i heard about it, I disagreed with it. At the same time, the Democrats are radical because the nine months is just a ridiculous situation.”
Earlier this week, Trump appeared reluctant to endorse the ballot initiative, initially withholding his voting intentions, on Thursday reiterating that he believes six weeks is “too short” and suggested that more time should be allowed for abortions. Trump also reaffirmed his stance that abortion laws should be determined by individual states rather than at the federal level, countering Democratic claims that he would seek a nationwide abortion ban if re-elected.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has also voiced opposition to the abortion ballot initiative, contending that the measure would override current state laws that require parental consent for minors seeking abortions.
“That [abortion] amendment is written very deceptively to try and trick as many people to vote for it as possible,” DeSantis said in April. “The amendment overturns Florida’s parental consent for minors law. So as a parent, you have parental consent for anything under the sun, expect they’re going to take abortion and put it in the [Florida] Constitution to cut parents out. That is unacceptable.”
Amendment 4, set to appear on the November ballot, requires 60 percent voter support in order to pass.
A Mainstreet Research poll conducted this month found that 56 percent of Florida voters support Amendment 4, opposition stands at 21 percent, with 23 percent of voters still undecided. Support is notably strong among younger voters and those identifying as Democrats, while Republicans largely oppose the amendment.