Trump snaps at reporter when asked about abortion: ‘Stop talking about it’

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump refuses to say how he voted on Florida’s abortion measure – and be tested on it.

The former president was asked twice after casting his vote in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday about an issue the state’s voters are considering. If approved, it would prevent state lawmakers from passing any law that penalizes, prohibits, delays or restricts abortion until fetal viability — which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks.

If rejected, the state’s restrictive six-week abortion law would stand.

The first time he was asked, Trump avoided answering. He said in lieu of the question that he did “a great job bringing it back to the States.” It was a reference to the former president’s appointment of three conservative justices to the US Supreme Court, who helped overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 2022.

Pressed a second time, Trump snapped at a reporter and said they should “just stop talking about it.”

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

In August, Trump said he believed Florida’s ban was a mistake, saying on Fox News Channel, “I think six weeks needs more time.” But then he said, “At the same time, the Democrats are radicals,” repeating false claims he has often made about abortion.

In addition to Florida, voters in eight other states deciding whether their state constitutions should guarantee a right to abortion and weighing ballot measures expected to spur turnout for a number of crucial races.

Passing certain changes in Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota would likely lead to the lifting of bans or restrictions that currently block varying levels of abortion access for the more than 7 million women of childbearing age who live in those states .

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