A spokeswoman for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign said Thursday that the candidate misspoke when he said Wednesday that if abortion were made illegal, women who have them should face some sort of punishment.
“This was a complete misspeak during a conversation over a hypothetical concept, and there was a clarification issued,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Katrina Pierson said on CNN’s “New Day.”
“Mr. Trump is pro-life with exceptions and does not support punishing women for having abortions, even if they’re illegal,” Ms. Pierson said.
The GOP presidential front-runner’s comments at an MSNBC town hall generated significant criticism from both pro-life and pro-choice groups Wednesday. He later said in a follow-up statement that the person performing the abortion, and not the woman, would be held legally responsible in that circumstance.
“My position has not changed. Like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions,” Mr. Trump said.
“This is a state issue — that’s the point here,” Ms. Pierson said Thursday. “These are state’s issues, not a federal overreach making decisions for everybody in the whole country.”
“It is fair to ask that question, but it should also be fair that when the candidate gives the response, clarifies, that we shouldn’t make this a 24-hour headline when we have things like terrorism going on in the world,” she said.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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