Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently made headlines for his evolving stance on abortion access, sparking debate and criticism from various groups.
In a social media post on Friday, Kennedy walked back his previous opposition to any government limits on abortion access. He now believes that abortion should be legal up until a certain number of weeks, with restrictions in place for the final months of pregnancy.
Expressing his views on the divisive issue, Kennedy highlighted an emerging consensus that supports legal abortion up to a certain point, typically until the baby is viable outside the womb. He emphasized that even in conservative states, total abortion bans are not widely supported, while gruesome third-trimester abortions are generally opposed except in cases to save the mother's life.
His initial comments, where he opposed government limits on abortion access, drew criticism from anti-abortion advocates, including within his own campaign. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and campaign adviser Angela Stanton King expressed concerns over Kennedy's stance, leading to a clarification from the candidate.
This incident is not the first time Kennedy's position on abortion access has faced scrutiny. Last year, he mentioned supporting a three-month federal abortion restriction, only to have his campaign retract that statement shortly after.
As the presidential campaign progresses, Kennedy's evolving views on abortion access continue to be a topic of discussion and debate among voters and advocacy groups.