By Megan Cassella
Washington: Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump says that women who end pregnancies should face some sort of punishment, if the US bans abortion.
In a clip of an interview with broadcaster MSNBC, Mr Trump said even if abortion is banned, some women would access the procedure illegally.
"There has to be some form of punishment," he said in the excerpt. Asked what form of punishment he would advocate, Mr Trump said, "That I don't know."
He then appeared to back-pedal on his comments on Wednesday after their release by MSNBC to say the abortion issue should be handled by the states.
Donald Trump in Florida last month. Credit: Bloomberg
MSNBC is expected to air the rest of the interview later on Wednesday, local time.
Mr Trump's comments immediately unleashed a torrent of negative reactions, and his campaign emailed a statement to Reuters in which Mr Trump moderated his view.
"This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination," Mr Trump said in the statement.
As his initial remarks continued to draw scrutiny, Mr Trump issued a second statement later in the day, this time suggesting doctors should be punished, not the women who he now said were victims.
A girl protesting at a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is escorted by police after being pepper-sprayed in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Tuesday. Credit: Wisconsin State Journal/AP
"If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman," the revised statement said.
"The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed - like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions."
An attendee wears campaign buttons before the start of an event with Hillary Clinton in New York on Wednesday.Credit: Bloomberg
The billionaire's rivals in the race for the Republican nomination presidential nomination say Mr Trump is not conservative enough on issues such as abortion. They have also criticised him for comments that have offended women and minority groups.
"Of course women shouldn't be punished," rival candidate Ohio Governor John Kasich told MSNBC. Mr Kasich said he opposes abortion except in specific cases such as rape.
Attendees stand outside before the start of a campaign event with Hillary Clinton in New York on Wednesday.Credit: Bloomberg
"I think probably Donald Trump will figure out a way to say that he didn't say it or he was misquoted or whatever," Mr Kasich said. "I don't think that's an appropriate response."
US Senator Ted Cruz, the third candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, earlier this year released an ad saying voters could not trust Mr Trump because he has not always opposed abortion.
Bethany Mead holds a sign on the street in Appleton, Wisconsin, before a Trump rally on Wednesday.Credit: AP
"Don't overthink it: Trump doesn't understand the pro-life position because he's not pro-life," Brian Phillips, spokesman for Senator Cruz, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, say women should be able to choose to have an abortion.
"Just when you thought it wouldn't get worse," Mrs Clinton, the Democratic front runner, wrote on Twitter about Trump's remarks.
"Horrific and telling," she said.
Reuters, Bloomberg