Fact Check: Did Trump Say He Would Look at Restricting Contraception?

Republican Party policy on birth control and abortion access has made headlines throughout the 2024 campaign, with GOP senators this month voting to block a bill that would have guaranteed access to contraceptives nationwide.

The Right to Contraception Act was stopped in its tracks after failing to achieve the 60 votes required for a full Senate vote, with all opposition to the legislation coming from Republicans.

During a speech this week, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the issue directly and claimed that former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, had said that he would be "looking" at restrictions on contraception.

The Claim

Vice President Kamala Harris said during a speech at University of Maryland, on June 24, 2024, that Donald Trump was "'looking at' restrictions on contraception."

"If there were a second Trump term, he [Donald Trump] has admitted that he is, quote, 'looking at' restrictions on contraception," Harris said.

"And pay close attention to how his friends in the United States Senate obstructed a bill to protect the right to contraception, not once, not twice, but three times."

The Facts

While it's true that Donald Trump said he would be "looking at" restrictions to a person's right to contraception, he later appeared to walk back his comments, throwing into question his official position.

Harris's remarks were based on an interview Trump gave to KDKA-TV's Jon Delano on May 21, 2024, during which he was asked directly about contraceptive rights.

Following a question on abortion law, Delano asked: "Related to this is the whole issue of contraceptives. Do you support any restrictions on a person's right to contraception?"

Trump replied: "Well we're looking at that and I'm going to have a policy on that
very shortly, and I think it's something that you'll find interesting and I, it's another issue that's very interesting, but you will find it I think very smart, I think it's a smart decision, but we'll be releasing it very soon."

Delano pressed, saying Trump's comments suggested "you may want to support some restrictions like the morning-after pill or something."

Trump responded: "We are also, you know, things really do have a lot to do with
the states and some states are going to have different policies than others, but I'm coming out within a week or so with a very comprehensive policy which I'll get to you immediately."

However, after the interview, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would "never" advocate imposing restrictions to contraception, calling out claims otherwise as a "Democrat fabricated lie."

"I HAVE NEVER, AND WILL NEVER ADVOCATE IMPOSING RESTRICTIONS ON BIRTH CONTROL, or other contraceptives," Trump wrote.

"This is a Democrat fabricated lie, MISINFORMATION/DISINFORMATION, because they have nothing else to run on except FAILURE, POVERTY, AND DEATH. I DO NOT SUPPORT A BAN ON BIRTH CONTROL, AND NEITHER WILL THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!"

During his time in office, Trump's administration tried to finalize rules that would have allowed employers to remove contraception services if they went against their religious beliefs or moral convictions.

The administration attempted to alter an Obama-era contraceptive mandate, promulgated in August 2011, which required that employer-based health plans cover prescription contraceptives at no cost to the patient.

The administration's efforts were later held up in court. The 9th Circuit said various federal wings lacked the authority to enforce rules that let various business, citing moral and religious reason, off the hook for covering birth control.

There are other signs that access to contraception may be restricted under a new Trump administration. Project 2025, a plan prepared by right-leaning groups that aims to "pave the way for an effective conservative administration," includes plans to "Restore Trump religious and moral exemptions to the contraceptive mandate" and "eliminate" access to the week-after-pill, Ella, from it.

While the Trump campaign previously said that outside groups do not speak for the former president, Project 2025's 1,000-page proposal was drafted with input from a long list of former Trump administration officials who are poised to fill the top ranks of a potential new administration, according to the Associated Press.

Newsweek has contacted media representatives for Trump and the White House via email for comment.

The Ruling

Needs Context.

During an interview in May 2024, when asked whether he supported restrictions on access to contraception, Donald Trump said he would be "looking at that" adding that he will have "a policy."

However, shortly after, he appeared to walk back the remarks, saying on Truth Social that he would never advocate imposing restrictions on birth control.

FACT CHECK BY Newsweek's Fact Check team