Former President Donald J. Trump dodged a question in an interview Tuesday about whether he supported contraceptive restrictions, but suggested he might support enacting them in states.
In an interview with CBS affiliate KDKA in Pittsburgh, Trump gave an ambiguous answer when asked if he supported “restricting individual rights to contraception.”
“We’re looking at it and we’ll make a decision on that soon,” he said. “And I think this is interesting to you, and it’s another very interesting problem, but I think you’ll find it to be a very smart one. I think it’s a smart decision.”
Interviewer John Delano asked whether Trump’s answer suggested he might support restrictions.
Trump responded: “You know, it really depends a lot on each state, and some states are going to have different policies than other states.”
But as the interview and the backlash against it escalated sharply on Tuesday, Trump posted on social media in all caps: “I will never advocate for restrictions on birth control.” He called the report, which was based on his own interview, “a lie fabricated by Democrats.”
Many Republicans worry that such opposition to contraception could be detrimental to a party that already struggles to express a consistent view on abortion rights. Kellyanne Conway and other prominent Republicans have called on the party to promote contraception as a way to improve the party’s image among women amid expanded abortion restrictions.
President Biden’s campaign quickly jumped on Trump’s interview.
In a statement, campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Titica said: “Trump is not alone in putting women’s lives at risk, threatening doctors with prison terms, and enacting extreme bans on rape and incest with no exceptions.” “It’s not good enough for the president.” “He’s also trying to take away our freedom to use contraception.”
Trump did not rule out states imposing their own restrictions in a statement on social media after the press conference. That leaves the possibility that Trump may end up taking a position similar to his recent decision on abortion, that he does not support a federal ban on contraception, but that states should decide for themselves. Asked specifically about Trump’s stance on states restricting birth control, a campaign spokesperson referred to the post but offered no further comment.
Contraception is legal across the country and supported by a broad bipartisan majority of Americans. But since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, concerns have grown that Republicans will restrict both traditional contraception and emergency contraception, known as the morning-after pill. . Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion at the time: The court should also “reconsider” its 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut decision, which protects married couples’ right to contraception.
Democrats have introduced a bill in the state Legislature that would protect contraceptive rights. At the federal level, House Democrats passed a similar bill in 2022, but only eight House Republicans supported it. It never passed the Senate.
A March poll by KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy, found that just under half of adults believe the right to contraception is “a safe right that is likely to remain.” The answer was yes.
lisa lerer Contributed to the report.
