Abortions may become harder for U.S. women to obtain with Donald Trump as president, who says he’ll take steps to overturn Roe v. Wade.
In an interview with 60 Minutes’ Lesley Stahl broadcast Sunday night, Trump said he would stick to his campaign pledge to appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court in an attempt to weaken or reverse the landmark 1973 decision on abortion.
READ MORE: Donald Trump supporters will ‘hold his feet to the fire’ if promises broken
“Are you looking to appoint a justice who wants to overturn Roe v. Wade?” Stahl asked.
“I’m pro-life. The judges will be pro-life,” Trump responded.
“They’ll be pro-life … But having to do with abortion if it ever were overturned, it would go back to the states. So it would go back to the states and–.”
“Yeah, but then some women won’t be able to get an abortion?” said Stahl.
“No, it’ll go back to the states,” Trump said, who when again pressed by Stahl said, “They’ll perhaps have to go, they’ll have to go to another state.”
READ MORE: LGBTQ, Muslims, immigrants left feeling scared, discouraged over Donald Trump win
“And that’s OK?” Stahl asked.
“Well, we’ll see what happens,” said Trump, refusing to answer. “It’s got a long way to go, just so you understand. That has a long, long way to go.”
Trump has maintained a pro-life position through his campaign, and Google data shows “abortion” was one of the most-searched terms during the election. In March, the president-elect said women who defy abortion bans should face some sort of punishment.
During the third presidential debate, Trump said overturning Roe V. Wade would happen “automatically” should he win.
READ MORE: Who voted for Donald Trump?
Trump’s stance on the highly decisive topic has already sparked reaction.
Donations to Planned Parenthood, along with demand for care spiked after Trump’s win. At some clinics requests for IUDs, a long-term birth control implant, went up by 50 per cent after election day out of fear that Obamacare will be repealed.
“There are almost no words to capture the threat that this election result poses,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood. “We will not give up, we will not back down.”
Trump’s VP pick, staunch pro-lifer and governor of Indiana Mike Pence, earlier this year signed a bill that would require women to hold funerals for their aborted or miscarried fetuses. A federal judge later blocked the legislation.
READ MORE: What President Donald Trump will mean for Canada
Pence’s harsh stance on abortion has prompted some to make donations to Planned Parenthood in his name, which will result in a thank-you note being sent to his address.
Trump and Pence will take power on Jan. 20.
— With a file from the Associated Press