Trump asked about Florida’s abortion measure

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

The former president was asked twice after casting his ballot in Palm Beach, Fla., on Tuesday about a question the state’s voters are considering. If approved, it would prevent state lawmakers from passing any laws that criminalize, ban, delay or restrict abortion until the fetus is viable — which doctors say is sometime after 21 weeks.

If rejected, the state’s restrictive six-week abortion law would remain in place.

The first time he was asked, Trump avoided answering. He said instead of the problem that he did “a great job bringing it back to the states.” This 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 decision in 2022.

Pressed a second time, Trump snapped at a reporter, saying he “should stop talking about it.”

Trump previously 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 are radicals,” as he repeated false claims he has frequently made about full-term abortions.

In addition to Florida, voters in eight other states are deciding whether their constitutions should guarantee abortion rights, weighing ballot measures expected to boost turnout in a number of crucial races.

Passage of certain amendments in Arizona, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota would likely overturn 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.