Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate for president, is facing scrutiny over his inconsistent stance on abortion, a pivotal issue in the 2024 election. Despite the significance of the topic, Kennedy's positions have varied, leading to confusion among voters and surprising his campaign staff and running mate.
In a recent statement, Kennedy expressed his belief that abortion should be legal up to a certain number of weeks, specifically until the point of fetal viability outside the womb. He clarified that he only supports third-trimester abortions in cases where the mother's life is at risk, despite acknowledging the ineffectiveness of this safeguard, as evidenced by incidents post-Roe v. Wade.
However, just days prior, Kennedy took a different stance in an interview on a podcast hosted by former ESPN host Sage Steele. He stated his opposition to any government restrictions on abortion, even if it's full term. He also emphasized the importance of trusting women to make decisions about their bodies, pushing back against claims about late-term abortions.
Kennedy's inconsistent views on abortion have been evident since the early days of his campaign. Last August, he initially indicated support for a federal ban on abortion after the first trimester but later clarified that he believes it is always the woman's right to choose and does not support legislation banning abortion.
Despite the significant impact of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to remove federal protections for abortion in 2022, Kennedy has been relatively silent on the issue. Analysis of his campaign speeches found that he rarely mentions abortion, preferring to focus on other topics like vaccines.
Kennedy's campaign has explained his avoidance of the abortion topic as an attempt to avoid further division and instead focus on issues like chronic disease that have the potential to unify the country. However, his shifting stance on abortion continues to raise questions and concerns among voters and his own campaign team.