Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says women who have abortions ‘should be punished’

PRESIDENTIAL candidate Donald Trump has made numerous offensive public statements during his run for high office. Now he’s truly outdone himself.

Republican Candidate Donald Trump Takes Part In Televised Town Hall In Green Bay

REPUBLICAN Presidential candidate Donald Trump has made numerous offensive public statements during his run for high office.

He’s called immigrants rapists, referred to actor Rosie O’Donnell as a “fat pig” and the American media as “total scum”.

But now he’s truly outdone himself with his latest comments on abortion.

During a town hall debate in Wisconsin, which holds its primary election next week, Mr Trump said women who undergo abortions should be punished.

In an interview with Chris Matthews from US cable network MSNBC, Mr Trump declared he was pro-life.

Here’s how the exchange went down:

Mr Matthews: “Do you believe in punishment for abortion, as a principle. Yes or no?”

Mr Trump: “The answer is that there has to be some form of punishment.”

Mr Matthews: “For the woman?”

Mr Trump: “Yeah.”

Mr Trump said he has not decided what the punishment should be.

These remarks are different to Mr Trump’s previous comments on abortion.

In a 1999 interview, Mr Trump called himself “pro-choice in every respect”, though he said that he did not like the concept of abortion.

After the town hall meeting overnight, Mr Trump’s campaign spokeswoman released a statement.

“This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination,” Mr Trump said via spokeswoman Hope Hicks. “Like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions, which I have outlined numerous times.”

Both Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders slammed Mr Trump’s comments.

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling. -H https://t.co/Qi8TutsOw9

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 30, 2016

Your Republican frontrunner, ladies and gentlemen. Shameful. https://t.co/y49Z8YfRgV

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 30, 2016

The executive vice-president of Planned Parenthood, an American organisation that provides women’s health services, including abortions, said Mr Trump’s comments were “flat-out dangerous”.

“Women’s lives are not disposable. There’s nothing else to say, as Donald Trump’s remarks today have said it all,” Dawn Laguens said in a statement to CNN.