Donald Trump says Women who Get Abortions Should be Punished…then Backtracks

GREEN BAY, WI – MARCH 30: Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump films a town hall meeting for MSNBC with Chris Matthews at the Weidner Center located on the University of Wisconsin Green Bay campus on March 30, 2016 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Candidates are campaigning ahead of the Wisconsin primary on April 5. (Photo by Tom Lynn/Getty Images)

On Wednesday 30th March, Donald Trump had a pre-taped ‘town hall’ with Chris Matthews on US station MSNBC.

His statements about abortion have sparked debate and criticism, as it remains a divisive issue in the United States where different states have different laws about pregnancy termination, and 1 in 3 American women have abortions by the age of 45.

Here’s a clip from the interview:

We can’t let someone with this much contempt for women’s rights anywhere near the White House.https://t.co/OjU9gRwsxo

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 30, 2016

Trump has now clarified the statement, by issuing this press release on his campaign website:

Many notable people and organisations have reacted, including U.S. Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, popular right wing author Ann Coulter, Planned Parenthood and Olympic medalist now CNN political commentator Sally Kohn. See their tweets below.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse. Horrific and telling. -H https://t.co/Qi8TutsOw9

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 30, 2016

Maya Angelou said: “When people show you who they are, believe them.” Trump can try to walk back his words, but we heard him loud and clear.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 30, 2016

Remember: If you make abortion a crime, you make women who seek abortions criminals. You put one in three women at risk.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 30, 2016

To be clear, @realDonaldTrump is now inciting violence against women for making a decision that’s theirs to make. https://t.co/Yjwj7g5J4X

— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) March 30, 2016

It doesn’t matter who is criminalized @realDonaldTrump, women need access to safe and legal abortion. #NeverTrump pic.twitter.com/1RdwAyb8PO

— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) March 31, 2016

1 in 3 women will have had an abortion by age 45.

And Republican frontrunner Donald Trump wants to punish them.

— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) March 30, 2016

In Support for Trump

Has anyone actually read Trump abortion transcript? Matthews browbeats Trump; Trump agrees to some vague punishment. https://t.co/ocrp2KcmTG

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) March 31, 2016

Religious conservatives: We will not even accept a fine. (We aren’t THAT against abortion if we can bash Trump.) https://t.co/wtYBR0EEia

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) March 30, 2016

Photo Credit: Tom Lynn/Getty Images