Remember when Trump quickly backtracked his comments about restricting contraceptives

Abortion and reproductive rights have become one of the most important political issues of 2024 and Donald Trump has been fumbling his way into bigger disasters each time he talks about his possible future policies. One of his worst comments on the issues came near the end of May.

Donald Trump backtracked on some very concerning remarks he made regarding that he made which appeared as if he was possibly planning a new policy that would restrict contraceptives in the United States if he was reelected in November. 

While speaking with political analyst Jon Delano during an interview on Pittsburgh news channel KDKA-TV on May 21st, Trump said that he was open to possible restrictions on birth control according to a report from NBC News, this likely was something that didn't go over well with his advisors. 

The former president was asked by Delano whether or not he supported any restrictions on a person’s right to contraceptives and Trump was quick to reply with a response that likely got him into a lot of trouble with some voters. 

"We’re looking at that, and I'm going to have a policy on that very shortly, and I think it’s something you’ll find interesting," the former president said. "I think it’s a smart decision. We’ll be releasing it very soon." However, neither Trump nor his campaign would go on to release this 'new policy.'

When Trump was asked if his comments meant he supported some restrictions on birth control, he replied: "You know, also, things really do have a lot to do with the states, and some states are going to have different policy than others."

Photo Credit: X @JonDelano

The former president’s comments appeared as if he was saying that he would support access to contraceptives as long as the decision was made by the states. However, Trump quickly backtracked his remarks in a post on social media.  

Later in the day, Trump took to Truth Social to explain that he never has nor will he ever be in favor of restricting access to contraceptives, though he did go about relaying that message in his typical bombastic Trumpian fashion. 

“I HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives,” the former president wrote on Truth Social. 

Photo Credit: Truth Social @realDonaldTrump

“This is a Democrat fabricated lie, MISINFORMATION/ DISINFORMATION, because they have nothing else to run on except FAILURE, POVERTY, AND DEATH. I DO NOT SUPPORT A BAN ON BIRTH CONTROL, AND NEITHER WILL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!” Trump added. 

Joe Biden’s campaign was quick to capitalize on the former president’s misstep. Biden campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika publicly blasted Trump for wanting to restrict reproductive rights even further after his response to Delano aired. 

“It’s not enough for Trump that women’s lives are being put at risk, doctors are being threatened with jail time, and extreme bans are being enacted with no exceptions for rape or incest,” Chitika said in the statement according to Politico. 

“He wants to rip away our freedom to access birth control too,” Chitika added. Politico noted reproductive rights have become a central issue in the 2024 election following the decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022. 

Trump has repeatedly bragged about the role he played in getting Roe v. Wade and the decision to leave abortion access to the states. In May 2023, the former president wrote in a Truth Social post that he killed abortion. 

After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the “shock” of everyone, and for the first time put the Pro Life movement in a strong negotiating position over the Radicals that are willing to kill babies,” Trump wrote. 

Photo Credit: Truth Social @realDonaldTrump

“Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to. Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing. Thank you President TRUMP!!!” the former president added. 

In January 2024, the former president bragged about his role in overturning Roe v Wade to a crowd in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump called it “a miracle” according to CBS News, which noted that he appointed three court justices who voted to overturn the decision. 

How Trump’s most recent comments will affect his campaign have yet to be seen but it is likely they won’t help him. Polling from the Pew Research Center published May 14th found that 63% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases. 

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