Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. initially opposed any government limits on abortion access but later clarified his position on social media after facing criticism from anti-abortion advocates. Kennedy now believes that abortion should be legal up until a certain number of weeks and restricted in the final months of pregnancy. He stated that in red states, voters reject total abortion bans, and very few people support third-trimester abortions except to save the mother’s life.
Kennedy supports the emerging consensus that abortion should be unrestricted until the baby is viable outside the womb, at which point appropriate restrictions should be in place in the final months of pregnancy, similar to the guidelines set by Roe v. Wade. This shift in stance came after Kennedy’s comments on a podcast suggesting no government limits on abortion access, which led to backlash from anti-abortion groups, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, who deemed him unacceptable to pro-life voters nationwide.
Angela Stanton King, a Kennedy campaign adviser involved in outreach to Black voters and policies on criminal justice and abortion, criticized Kennedy’s initial stance on abortion. Following discussions with Kennedy, she confirmed that he would clarify his position on abortion, leading to his statement on social media. This incident is not the first time Kennedy has had to walk back his comments on government limits on abortion access, as a similar situation occurred last year when he initially supported a three-month federal abortion restriction before his campaign reversed that position.
Throughout Kennedy’s evolving stance on abortion access, he has emphasized the need to balance legal rights with appropriate restrictions to ensure the protection of both the mother and the unborn child. By acknowledging the complexities of the abortion debate and responding to feedback from various stakeholders, including his own campaign advisers and anti-abortion groups, Kennedy aims to navigate a contentious issue that has long divided Americans. As he continues to refine his position and engage in dialogue on abortion policy, Kennedy hopes to appeal to a broader spectrum of voters while upholding his core beliefs on reproductive rights and governmental regulations.
