Donald Trump has broken his silence following a near-total ban on abortions in the US state of Alabama, outlining his “strongly pro-life” views.
Days after the extreme measures were passed, the US president tweeted that he was against abortion with the exception of rape, incest and “protecting the life of the mother”.
It comes as Alabama’s governor, Kay Ivey, signed a bill on Wednesday which makes performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a crime punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison.
The punishment is more than the maximum sentence of 10 years for incest and sexual abuse, and was passed by 25 male Republican senators.
Trump said: “As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan.”
The extreme bill, which campaigners criticised as ‘heartbreaking’, does not include exceptions for rape and incest.
Sixteen more states are looking to impose new restrictions on abortion through ‘heartbeat’ bills. Earlier this month, Georgia passed a law banning abortions at six weeks.
Trump added that his appointment of conservative Supreme Court judges –including Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh – have helped to bring about the restrictions.
“We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new federal judges (many more to come), two great new supreme court justices… and a whole new and positive attitude about the right to life,” he said.
Supporters expect the law to be blocked in court before an appeals process to bring it before the highest court in the land – the US Supreme Court.
Several democrats have criticised the ban, including presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, who called the ban a “dangerous and exceptionally cruel” move being used to overturn Roe v Wade.
The landmark 1973 ruling protects a woman’s right to choose whether or not to have an abortion.
“I’ve lived in that America and let me tell you: We are not going back - not now, not ever. We will fight this. And we will win,” Warren said.
A pro-choice rally will take place on Sunday to protest the measures.