United States President Donald Trump has broken his silence on hard-line new anti-abortion laws being passed in the country.
The state of Alabama recently passed a bill that would outlaw nearly all abortions, creating exceptions only to safeguard the health of the mother.
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Missouri then followed suit by prohibiting women from seeking an abortion after the eighth week of pregnancy.
It is now illegal in both states to obtain an abortion for reasons of rape or incest.
On Monday Trump tweeted to his followers saying that, while he agreed that abortion should be illegal, exceptions should be made in cases of rape, incest and where the health of the mother is at stake.
"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," his tweet read.
Trump then went on to say how his administration was putting in place a legal network that would make sure that pro-life policies were supported and encouraged throughout the country.
"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, the Mexico City Policy, and a whole new & positive attitude about the Right to Life."
His policies echo that of President Ronald Reagan who left office 30 years ago.
Alabama's law is expected to be challenged in court and possibly even appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. That would then set up a battle over Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 federal ruling that allowed women to be able to choose to have an abortion.
On top of this week's new legislation, Georgia, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio and Kentucky have all passed so-called "heartbeat" abortion bills in 2019, outlawing the practice after as early as six weeks into pregnancy.
Another six states have introduced heartbeat bills to their legislative houses which will be debated and voted on in the coming months.
In contrast to Trump, most Democratic leaders have come out strongly in favour of a woman's right to choose.
"A woman's right to control her own body is basic constitutional right," Bernie Sanders said while campaigning in South Carolina on Sunday. "I think it is beyond belief to me that and again in the year 2019. People are trying to take that very basic, right away."
Newshub.
