Trump lashes out at reporter when asked about abortion: 'Stop talking about that'

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – Donald Trump refuses to say how he voted on Florida's abortion measure – and the vetting of it.

The former president was asked twice after voting in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday about a question the state's voters are considering. If approved, it will prevent state lawmakers from passing any law that punishes, prohibits, delays or prohibits abortion until the baby is healthy – doctors say after 21 weeks.

If rejected, the state's six-week abortion ban would stand.

When asked the first time, Trump avoided answering. He said instead of the issue he did “a very good job in giving back to the states.” That was a reference to the fact that the former president appointed three conservative justices to the US Supreme Court who helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Pressed a second time, Trump snapped at the reporter, saying “they need to stop talking about that.”

Trump had indicated he would support the measure – but then changed his mind and said he would vote against it.

In August, Trump said he thought Florida's ban was a mistake, saying on Fox News Channel, “I think six weeks, you need more time.” But then he said, “at the same time, Democrats have a strong position” while repeating the false claims he has often made about late-term abortions.

In addition to Florida, voters in eight other states are deciding whether their state constitutions should guarantee the right to abortion, weighing on ballot measures expected to galvanize candidates in a range of key races.

Passing specific amendments in Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota would likely lead to the reversal of bans or restrictions that currently block varying degrees of access to abortions for the more than 7 million women of legal age who live in those states.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that Trump told the reporter to “stop talking about that,” not “stop talking about it.”