President Biden’s reelection campaign said Tuesday that the president does not support “full-term abortion,” in contrast to a recent position taken by one of his challengers in the White House race.
Fox News Digital asked the Biden campaign this week whether it agrees with independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s statement last week that he opposes government restrictions on abortion “even at term.” Asked.
“No, the president has made clear many times that he does not support full-term abortion. He believes Mr. Roe was correct,” said Lauren Hitt, a senior campaign spokeswoman. Ta.
After initial outreach to the Biden campaign, Fox News Digital received a statement on the matter from a Democratic National Committee (DNC) spokesperson claiming that Kennedy “cannot be trusted to stand up for reproductive freedom.” .
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President Biden speaks during a campaign event at Hillsborough Community College’s Dale Mabry Campus on April 23, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
“He has said he intends to sign a national abortion ban and has repeatedly denied the importance of abortion rights in his campaign,” Democratic National Committee communications adviser Rhys Smith said in a statement. Stated. “At a time when reproductive freedom is under attack, we need leaders who will stand up for women. It’s clear that neither RFK Jr. nor Trump will do that.”
Abortion has been a major campaign issue since June 2022, when the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision striking down Roe v. Wade and handing the issue back to the states.
The Democratic Party has made abortion a cornerstone of its political message, and Biden has repeatedly criticized former President Trump on the issue.
In a speech at Hillsboro Community College in Tampa, Florida, on April 23, Biden claimed It was Trump who “stripped American women of their right to freedom.”
“It’s up to all of us to restore the rights of women in America,” he added at the time.
Several Republican states have passed bills restricting abortion, while Democrats have been successful in getting initiatives to allow the procedure to vote in various states.
I will be appearing on “” on Wednesday.sage steele show” Kennedy was asked about his stance on abortion.
Pro-abortion protesters cheer at a rally following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade on August 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancia, File)
Kennedy clashed with Steele over late-term abortions, arguing that they are extremely rare and that there are usually “extenuating circumstances” behind the decision.
Biden shows sign of the cross during pro-abortion speech in Florida
“I think there’s a really, really good argument, a persuasive argument, that the state has an interest in protecting a fully formed fetus. I absolutely think that argument is very persuasive. But again, I come to the truth: Don’t trust the nation,” President Kennedy said. “I think we need to trust women, but I don’t think that’s a satisfying outcome because there are always examples of bad things happening.”
“So, in other words, Roe v. Wade would be overturned, leaving it up to each state to decide whether and when a woman can have an abortion,” Steele continued.
“No, I’m not going to leave it up to the states,” Kennedy responded. “It should be left to women. The government should not be involved.”
“Even if it’s a full term,” Steele said.
“Even if it’s at term,” President Kennedy replied, later adding, “I think we should leave it to women, not the country. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that never happens.” But at the end of the day, no one wants to do that, and there are always some extenuating circumstances that lead a mother to make that choice. I can’t stress enough how awful that is. And I think ultimately you have to trust women. ”
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Kennedy’s stance on abortion It became a hot topic last year After NBC News reported that he supports limiting abortions to 15 or 21 weeks of pregnancy.
his The campaign later clarified his position, He said in a statement that he had misunderstood the question, saying: “He does not support laws banning abortion.”
Fox News’ Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
