RFK Jr. Defends Full-Term Abortion Stance: "Leave It to the Woman

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. adamantly opposes government restrictions on abortions, even in late-term pregnancies, arguing that decisions should be made by women in consultation with their healthcare providers and spiritual advisors.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ignited controversy during a recent interview on "The Sage Steele Show" by expressing his unwavering support for unrestricted abortion, even if the pregnancy is "full term."

Kennedy's stance stems from his belief in bodily autonomy and opposition to government interference in personal decisions. "I think with abortion, every abortion is a tragedy. Many of them leave permanent trauma on the woman," he said. However, he emphasizes that the decision should ultimately be left to the woman involved, in consultation with her spiritual advisors or physician.

Host Sage Steele pressed Kennedy on his position regarding late-term abortions, which are typically performed after 24 weeks of gestation. Kennedy acknowledged the compelling argument for state protection of fully-formed fetuses but maintained his belief in the woman's right to make the choice.

"I think there's a really, really good argument, a compelling argument, that the state has an interest in protecting a fully-formed fetus. I absolutely think that that argument is very convincing. But again, I come down to the fact that I don't trust the state," Kennedy stated.

He further argued that such decisions are deeply personal and involve complex and extenuating circumstances. "I think we need to trust the woman and I don't think that that's a satisfactory outcome, because there's always gonna be instances where bad things happen."

Despite the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, Kennedy rejects the idea of leaving abortion regulation to individual states. "No, I wouldn't leave it to the states," he said. "We should leave it to the woman. We shouldn't have government involved."

Kennedy's views align with those of some abortion rights advocates who argue that the government should not dictate reproductive decisions. However, they contrast sharply with the beliefs of many anti-abortion activists who believe that fetuses have rights as human beings and oppose abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the mother's life.

Abortion has emerged as a polarizing issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, with candidates from both sides of the political spectrum taking strong stances on the matter. Kennedy's full-throated support for unrestricted abortion is likely to generate significant debate and discussion in the coming months.