Donald Trump suggests women who violated a theoretical abortion ban could be punished

(Image credit: Tom Lynn/Getty Images)

published 30 March 2016

Donald Trump has staked his presidential campaign on a never-ending streak of shocking, controversial statements. He made another one this afternoon, suggesting that, under a hypothetical abortion ban, women who sought illegal abortions could be punished.

Speaking with Chris Matthews on MSNBC, Trump was pressed on how an abortion ban would work, and what the repercussions would be for someone who broke the law. After attempting to dodge the question, the GOP frontrunner declined to give further details, though he reiterated that "there has to be some form of punishment" for women if they chose to have abortions under a theoretical abortion ban, though he added that what the consequences would be "would have to be determined."