Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, expressed surprise during an interview on Thursday when his 2024 rival, former President Trump, criticized Florida’s six-week abortion ban as being “too harsh” last month.
DeSantis, speaking with CBN News’ David Brody for an upcoming interview on the 700 Club, stated, “I was really surprised because he’s a Florida resident.”
He added, “I thought he would commend the fact that we were able to pass the heartbeat bill, which pro-lifers have wanted for a long time. He never praised it or said anything about it. Then he was asked about it and he called it ‘harsh.'”
In a previous interview with The Messenger, Trump commented on the six-week abortion ban signed into law by DeSantis in April, saying, “If you look at what DeSantis did, a lot of people don’t even know if he knew what he was doing. But he signed six weeks, and many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh.”
When Brody asked DeSantis if he believed Trump was being too lenient on abortion, the governor responded, “I think so.” He further stated, “While I appreciate what the former president has accomplished in various areas, he opposes that bill. He called it ‘harsh’ to protect an unborn child when there’s a detectable heartbeat. I believe that’s the humane thing to do.”
DeSantis also mentioned the desire of pro-life advocates to see strong protections in place, whether in Florida or Iowa under Governor Kim Reynolds.
The issue of abortion has been a challenge for Republican candidates in the presidential primary as well as for GOP candidates in other races.
Democrats gained victories over Republicans in several crucial swing states during the previous midterm elections by focusing on abortion access, particularly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision that legalized abortion at the federal level.
Polling indicates that Americans tend to support access to abortions earlier in pregnancy rather than later. A Gallup poll released on Wednesday revealed that 69 percent of Americans believe abortion should be legal during the first trimester, while 37 percent support legality in the second trimester and 22 percent in the third trimester.