During a recent interview, former President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval of Florida’s six-week abortion ban and hinted at backing a measure to nullify it. This stance is unexpected for a Republican presidential candidate and might provoke backlash from anti-abortion groups.

“The six-week limit is too restrictive; more time is necessary,” Trump stated to NBC News while campaigning in Michigan.

When asked about his vote on a proposed constitutional amendment in Florida aimed at protecting abortion rights, Trump indicated, “I will be voting for more than six weeks.”

Later on Thursday, Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, clarified that while Trump believes six weeks is insufficient, he has not definitively stated how he will vote on the initiative.

In addition to discussing abortion access, Trump also addressed in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment during his interview. He assured that if elected again, his administration would guarantee coverage for IVF expenses.

“Under the Trump administration, we will fund this treatment,” he declared, noting that insurance providers will be required to cover these costs. However, he did not provide specific details on how this would work.

The topic of IVF gained national attention after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF possess legal rights similar to those of children. Consequently, Alabama legislators quickly passed a bill to facilitate IVF procedures.

The financial burden of multiple IVF cycles can be significant for prospective parents, with an average cycle costing approximately $12,000, as reported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Trump has consistently voiced his support for IVF services.

In Florida, the law prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically around six weeks of gestation. This law was championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and received strong support from other GOP leaders in the state where Trump resides and votes.

Activists advocating for abortion rights are collaborating to overturn this law through a ballot initiative aiming to secure abortion protections in the state constitution. The proposed measure states: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion prior to viability or when necessary to safeguard the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

Reinstating abortion access until fetal viability outside the womb would restore Florida’s legal framework to that established by the now-overturned Roe v. Wade decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, a ruling influenced by a court with justices appointed by Trump.

The end of Roe v. Wade has energized advocates for abortion rights and significantly impacted the political landscape ahead of the 2024 elections. Facing mounting pressure, Trump has distanced himself from the idea of a nationwide abortion ban, which has drawn criticism from anti-abortion groups and some prominent Republicans. His vice-presidential pick, Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, indicated that Trump would veto such a ban if proposed.

However, if Trump supports a measure to enhance abortion rights and repeals the current ban in Florida, it would mark a significant departure from the anti-abortion stance traditionally embraced by the movement, which actively backed DeSantis’ push to restrict abortions after six weeks.

Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff