Trump on Women Who Have Abortions: ‘There Has To Be Some Punishment’

Donald Trump believes women who have abortions should be “punished.” In an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews airing tonight, the ostensibly pro-life candidate was asked about his views on abortion and how they relate to the the Catholic Church's teachings. 

"Do you believe in punishment for abortion, yes or no, as a principle?" Matthews asked. 

"The answer is that there has to be some form of punishment," Trump replied.  

"For the woman?" Matthews asked.

"Yeah." Trump said. 

"Ten years?" Matthews asked.

"I don't know," Trump said. 

And here's the full transcript: 

MATTHEWS: “Should a woman be punished for having an abortion?”
TRUMP: “Look –“
MATTHEWS: “This is not something you can dodge. If you say abortion is a crime or abortion is murder, you have to deal with it under the law. Should abortion be punished?”
TRUMP: “Well, people in certain parts of the Republican Party and conservative Republicans would say yes, they should be punished.”
MATTHEWS: “How about you? 
TRUMP: “I would say it’s a very serious problem. And it’s a problem we have to decide on. It’s very –“
MATTHEWS: “But you’re for banning it?”
TRUMP: “Are you going to say put them in jail? Is that the punishment you are talking about?”
MATTHEWS: “No, I’m asking you because you say you want to ban it. What does that mean?”
TRUMP: “I;m against — I’m pro-life. “
MATTHEWS: “How do you ban abortion? How do you do it?”
TRUMP: “Well, you know, you go back to a position where they had where people will perhaps go to illegal places. But you have to ban it.” [crosstalk] 
MATTHEWS: “You ban it and they go to somebody who flunked out of medical school.”
TRUMP: “Are you Catholic?”
MATTHEWS: “Yes.”
TRUMP: “And how do you feel about the Catholic church’s position?”
MATTHEWS: “I accept the teaching authority of my church on moral issue.”
TRUMP: “But do you know their position on abortion?”
MATTHEWS: “Yes I do.”
TRUMP: “And do you concur with their position?”
MATTHEWS: “I concur with their moral position, but —[crosstalk] Here’s my problem.”
TRUMP: “ No, let me ask you. What do you say about —“
MATTHEWS: “ It’s not funny.”
TRUMP: “It’s really not funny. What do you say about your church having very —“[crosstalk] 
MATTHEWS: “But the churches make their moral judgments. But you’re running for the president of the United States, you will be chief executive of the United States. Do you believe in punishment for abortion yes or no as a principle?”
TRUMP: “And the answer is that there has to be some form of punishment.”
MATTHEWS: “For the woman?”
TRUMP: “Yes, there has to be some form.”
MATTHEWS: “Ten years?”
TRUMP: “I don’t know. That I don’t know.”
MATTHEWS: “Why not?”
TRUMP: “I don’t know.”
MATTHEWS: “You take positions on everything else.”
TRUMP: “I do take positions on everything else, It’s a very complicated position.”