Republican primary front-runner Donald Trump said Thursday he “absolutely” wants to try to change the Republican Party platform to allow for abortions in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk.
“Yes, I would. Yes, I would. Absolutely,” Mr. Trump said on NBC’s “Today.” “For the three exceptions, I would.”
The Republican Party platform recognizes that the “unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed.”
It does not mention exceptions for rape, incest or the safety of the mother. It advocates the adoption of a Human Life Amendment to the Constitution, which has historically varied on such exceptions.
Republican National Committee official James Bopp told LifeNews that the party “does not take a position on which version of a Human Life Amendment should be adopted.”
“We leave that decision to Congress and the people of the United States at that time,” Mr. Bopp said. “Thus, we do not take a position on which exceptions should be included in a Human Life Amendment.”
Mr. Trump has previously drawn the scorn of pro-life conservatives for praising Planned Parenthood and suggesting current abortion laws should not be changed.
He also ran afoul of the pro-choice community when he said women who procure illegal abortions should face “punishment,” before quickly walking back the comment.
• Bradford Richardson can be reached at brichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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