Democratic candidate for president Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) clarified earlier comments he made regarding abortion. The activist said that he would not support a federal ban on the practice, and stated that he believed in its legality in the first trimester.
During a campaign event in Iowa Sunday, the candidate initially appeared to back a partial abortion ban.
“I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the women during the first three months of life,” he said.
RFK Jr. was asked if he would support a nationwide abortion ban at 15 or 21 weeks into a pregnancy. He replied back affirmatively.
“Once a child is viable outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting the child,” he said. “I’m for medical freedom. Individuals are able to make their own choices.”
Kennedy’s comments were reported by the media as support for a nationwide abortion ban.
However, later that day, Kennedy’s campaign said in a statement that he “misunderstood a question posed to him by an NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the Iowa State Fair. Mr. Kennedy’s position on abortion is that it is always the woman’s right to choose. He does not support legislation banning abortion.”
Kennedy’s primary campaign has drawn significant interest from Republicans, especially due to his efforts regarding vaccine safety. He was a favorite among Iowa GOP voters supporting former President Donald Trump to lead the Centers for Disease Control.
Iowa's Republican voters support the idea of vaccine critic Robert Kennedy Jr. overseeing key government health agencies, a recent poll revealed.
A poll of 600 Iowa Republicans showed major support for RFK to run the Centers for Disease Control or the Food and Drug… pic.twitter.com/1OHfEZ3j9B
— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) August 13, 2023
The same poll showed that Kennedy also carried significant support in a hypothetical entry into the Republican ticket. Among all Republican primary voters in Iowa, 40% would support him being the party’s vice presidential candidate, with 29% opposed. Among supporters of Trump, support rose to 50%, with 21% opposed.
Kennedy, the son of former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) also stated during the campaign event that he would not have supported the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act and said that the federal government’s efforts to stem global warming were “actually doing the opposite.”
