Donald Trump blew up the news cycle on Wednesday by telling Chris Matthews at a town hall that “there has to be some form of punishment” for women who have abortions if the procedure is outlawed.
Everyone — even pro-lifers — hated Donald Trump’s abortion comments
Trump later reversed course and said that if abortion were illegal, criminal penalties would fall on doctors, not women. That’s the mainstream pro-life position, but Trump seemingly wasn’t aware of this. Pro-choice advocates, meanwhile, said that this mainstream pro-life position is disingenuous, and that Trump’s comments reveal the inevitable real-world consequences of outlawing abortion.
Here’s what Twitter had to say about the whole thing.
Many pro-life people were upset by Trump’s comments, and said they don’t represent the movement
Years - decades! - of the pro-life movement saying it's not looking to punish anyone for abortion, cut out at the knees by Trump.
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) March 30, 2016
Trump’s comments are what someone who isn’t actually pro-life would think someone who is pro-life would want to hear https://t.co/LOWKoI5mgi
— Josh Perry (@MrJoshPerry) March 30, 2016
In all my years of being pro life, I've never heard another pro lifer want anything but grace and healing for women who've had abortions
— Michele Frost (@michelelfrost) March 30, 2016
This is the pro-life movement I know:
— Alyssa Farah (@Alyssafarah) March 30, 2016
https://t.co/FgZXmdkI1q
Some said Trump’s views show that he’s not truly pro-life
Don't overthink it: Trump doesn't understand the pro-life position because he's not pro-life.
— Brian Phillips (@RealBPhil) March 30, 2016
Trump demonstrated his "flexibility" on the abortion flip flop. #DelicateDonald
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) March 30, 2016
How can we have any idea what Trump will believe tomorrow when Trump has no idea what Trump will believe tomorrow.
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) March 30, 2016
Others argued that Trump exposed the reality of pro-life policies, and the underlying logic of the pro-life position
Every R running for prez agrees with Trump on "punishing" women who get abortions. That's what it means for abortion to be illegal.
— Zach Carter (@zachdcarter) March 30, 2016
Nope. This wasn't a verbal malfunction. This was an unplanned moment of honesty that should be taken seriously. https://t.co/JRMu4KM7Wf
— Pamela Merritt (@SharkFu) March 30, 2016
2. Trump turns subtext into text. He doesn't know how to talk in dog whistle or code & spells out bluntly implications of policy.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) March 30, 2016
5. In the case of abortion, Trump isn't native to anti-abortion right & doesn't know lingo devised to hide horrifying implications of policy
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) March 30, 2016
Some pointed out that women are already “punished” for abortion in America
Just FYI on Trump comments & the claim prolifers don't want women to go to jail for abortion: Women already are going to jail for abortion.
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) March 30, 2016
That’s actually true, both in America and in countries like El Salvador where abortion is outlawed. One reason why:
Many self-induced abortions look exactly like miscarriages. Outlaw abortion, be prepared to have every miscarriage investigated.
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) March 30, 2016
And a pro-choice #WontBePunished hashtag took off
. @realDonaldTrump will build a wall around all women who have had abortions and make us pay for it. #WontBePunished
— ilyse hogue (@ilyseh) March 30, 2016
My abortion has allowed me to finish my education and do good work in my community. I'm unapologetic and unashamed. I #WontBePunished
— Taylor Medley (@reprotaylor) March 30, 2016
I #WontBePunished for having an abortion. But unfortunately due to anti-choice politicians, too many people already are.
— Renee Bracey Sherman (@RBraceySherman) March 30, 2016
#1in3 woke need an abortion in their lives. Someday, it may be me - and I #WontBePunished if I do. pic.twitter.com/tCcFng0BSS
— Becka Wall (@beckawall) March 30, 2016
