Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate, recently expressed his stance on abortion in a podcast interview with Sage Steele. Kennedy stated that he opposes government limits on abortion at both the federal and state levels, advocating for legal abortions throughout the entire gestational period. He believes that the decision to have an abortion should be left to the woman and that the state should not interfere in determining abortion access. Kennedy emphasized that while he views every abortion as a tragedy, he is committed to making childcare more affordable to reduce pressures on women considering abortions due to financial constraints.
When questioned about allowing individual states to determine abortion access, Kennedy reiterated his belief that the government should not be involved in these decisions. He expressed his support for leaving the decision entirely up to the woman, even in the case of full-term abortions. These views contrast with previous statements Kennedy has made on abortion, as well as with his running mate’s characterization of his position. Nicole Shanahan previously indicated that Kennedy supported limitations on abortion, but Kennedy himself clarified in the interview that he believes the mother should have the final say in such decisions.
Kennedy’s campaign spokesperson specified that he finds late-term abortions horrifying but maintains that the mother holds the moral responsibility and final say in such choices. While Kennedy’s views have been somewhat ambiguous in the past, he explicitly stated to Steele that he believes the state should not be involved in setting gestational limits on abortion access. Although there is a compelling argument for the government to protect a fully formed fetus, Kennedy reiterated his stance on trusting women to make these decisions.
Kennedy acknowledged potential extenuating circumstances that may lead a woman to consider a late-term abortion, emphasizing the need to trust women in these difficult situations. He noted that no woman likely plans to terminate a pregnancy at such a late stage, and such decisions are often driven by unique circumstances. Kennedy’s comments drew criticism from anti-abortion groups, with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America calling him a “true extremist” for his support of unlimited abortion access up to full term. Despite this backlash, Kennedy remains firm in his belief that women should have autonomy over their reproductive choices.
