Donald Trump: Videos of Planned Parenthood Selling Aborted Babies Were “Disgusting,” De-Fund It

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Aug 17, 2015   |   12:11PM   |   Washington, DC

In a weekend interview, pro-life Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump again talked about the issue of abortion and, specifically, whether the abortion business Planned Parenthood should continue receiving $550 million in taxpayer funding. Trump said the taxpayer funds should be stopped if the abortion company continues doing abortions.

In an exclusive sit-down interview with NBC’s Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, Trump said he’s “evolved” on the issue of abortion from being supportive of abortion to holding pro-life views.

Trump said he would not fund Planned Parenthood if it continued to do abortions.

“It has to stop with the abortions,” he said, adding that he is familiar with the recent expose’ videos showing Planned Parenthood selling the body parts of aborted babies: “The first five tapes or six tapes, I think they were outrageous. I think they were terrible, disgusting by any standpoint.”

SIGN THE PETITION! Congress Must De-Fund Planned Parenthood Immediately

“It was terrible,” Trump said. “They talked about it almost like we’re making widgets or gadgets. They talked about it like we’re doing cars or something. And it was inappropriate. I didn’t like what I saw.”

Trump told NBC that his support for de-funding Planned Parenthood doesn’t make him anti-woman.

“Women’s health issues to me are very important. I cherish women. My mother was this incredible woman. I have great children. I have a great wife. I have such great respect for women. I understand the importance of women. I have many executives in my organization that are women that frankly get paid more than many of my men executives. They’ve done great with me,” he said.

Asked if he would support a government shutdown to de-fund Planned Parenthood, Trump did not go as far as he has in the past, when he said he would support a government shutdown if necessary to revoke taxpayer funding for the abortion giant.

“I’d have to think about it. It bothers me greatly that they’re doing the abortions,” Trump said.

NBC asked Trump where he stood on the issue of abortion itself and Trump made it clear that he only support the rare exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother — when abortions are done only approximately 1-2 percent of the time. Trump also clarified that he does not support a health exception that pro-life advocates have long opposed since Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton because such exceptions essentially allow unlimited abortions up to birth for any reason.

SIGN THE PETITION! Congress Must Investigate Planned Parenthood for Selling Aborted Baby Parts

As NBC reported:

Trump said he favored abortion rights in cases of rape, incest and the health of the mother “if the mother is close to death.”

“I’m talking about death,” he reiterated when Todd asked him about the health of the mother. “If the mother will die and we’re going to know that. The problem with [saying health] is, what, you have a cold and you’re having an abortion?”

“Well, to me, I have exceptions. Rape, incest, if the mother is going to die. And Ronald Reagan had those same exceptions. And many Republicans have those same exceptions,” Trump said.

Donald Trump