After Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over the weekend said he would sign a federal abortion ban after 3 months of pregnancy, his campaign said he “misunderstood” the reporter’s question in a noisy Iowa hall.
RFK Jr. on Sunday at the Iowa State Fair was asked if he would sign a federal bill to protect the abortion rights from the Roe precedent.
“I believe a decision to abort a child should be up to the woman during the first 3 months of life,” Kennedy responded to the NBC News reporter.
In a follow-up exchange, Kennedy was asked if he would cap abortions at 15 weeks or 21 weeks of pregnancy.
“Yes, three months,” RFK Jr. responded, and the reporter again reiterated his proposed cap on 3 months. “Yes, I would,” he said.
The reporter noted that his response was at odds with the Democratic Party platform. Many of Kennedy’s stances do not align with the Democratic Party.
“Once a child is viable, outside the womb, I think then the state has an interest in protecting that child,” Kennedy said, later adding, “I’m for medical freedom. I think individuals ought to be able to make their own choices.”
RFK Jr. pointed out that “very, very few abortions” are performed after 3 months.
Following backlash to his comments, his campaign issued a statement that completely went against what he said at the Iowa State Fair.
“Mr. Kennedy misunderstood a question posed to him by a NBC reporter in a crowded, noisy exhibit hall at the lowa State Fair,” RFK Jr.’s campaign said in a statement.
“Mr. Kennedy’s position on abortion is that it is always the woman’s right to choose,” the campaign added. “He does not support legislation banning abortion.”
Kennedy is a “firm supporter” of the principles laid out 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade, he said in a later statement.
“For Constitutional and moral reasons, I believe the decision on whether to continue a pregnancy should be up to the mother,” RFK Jr. said.
“Roe v. Wade served this country well for 50 years,” he added. “I support the judicial principles behind it. If the courts do not overturn Dobbs v. Jackson and restore abortion rights, I will support legislation to accomplish the same. Body sovereignty must be protected.”
The group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America jumped into the conversation about Kennedy’s back-and-forth comments, saying voters should know each candidate’s stance on abortion.
“It seems clear someone told Kennedy to step back in line,” Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement.
“This speaks volumes about the radical abortion lobby’s grip on party leadership and consultants,” Dannenfelser said. “The voters deserve to hear directly from Kennedy on where he really stands given the conflicting statements from him versus his campaign.”