Donald Trump defended current laws on abortion in a Friday interview with CBS News, walking back harsher comments he made on the issue earlier in the week.
The GOP front-runner told “Face the Nation” host John Dickerson while he believes abortion is murder, he is content to leave laws on the matter as is.
“The laws are set now on abortion and that’s the way they’re going to remain until they’re changed,” Trump said, adding that he would have preferred the states making individual decisions on the issue rather than having the Supreme Court making a nationwide decision.
The New York businessman defended comments he made Tuesday during a MSNBC town hall that the practice ought to be banned and those who engage in abortion — doctors or patients — should be eligible for “some form of punishment.”
“A question was asked to me. And it was asked in a very hypothetical. And it was said, ‘Illegal, illegal,'” Trump explained. “I’ve been told by some people that was an older line answer and that was an answer that was given on a, you know, basis of an older line from years ago on a very conservative basis.”
When questioned, Trump reiterated that he believed aborting of an unborn fetus is murder.
“You said you were very pro-life,” Dickerson followed up. “Pro-life means that…abortion is murder.”
“I mean, I do have my opinions on it. I just don’t think it’s an appropriate forum,” said Trump.
“But you don’t disagree with that proposition, that it’s murder?” Dickerson asked.
“No, I don’t disagree with it,” Trump eventually replied.
The full interview will air Sunday on CBS News.
